TRIESTE – The world’s largest vehicle carrier has been launched in recent days by the China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Nanjing and delivered to the Chinese automaker BYD. The BYD Shenzhen, equipped with dual-fuel capability — meaning it can operate on both LNG and conventional fuel — is named after the city where the world-leading electric vehicle manufacturer is headquartered. With a capacity just exceeding 9,100 CEU, the BYD Shenzhen has overtaken the previous record held by Norway’s Höegh Autoliners. Measuring 219 meters in length and 37.7 meters in width, the vessel can carry up to 9,200 vehicles and is the first of its kind to be built for BYD Co Ltd. It features 16 decks and can reach a top speed of 19 knots. The delivery ceremony took place in the city of Yizheng, in the eastern province of Jiangsu. This maritime giant is equipped with cutting-edge green technologies: high-efficiency and energy-saving main engines, a hybrid battery system, a shaft generator, a boil-off gas (BOG) recovery system, a high-voltage shore power connection, as well as selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology and antifouling and drag-reducing coatings, all of which enhance energy efficiency and ensure compliance with the latest emission reduction standards set by the IMO (International Maritime Organization). This is BYD’s fourth vehicle carrier, joining the three Ro-Ro ships already in its fleet. In 2022, the company announced a 5 billion yuan investment plan to commission eight Ro-Ro vessels by 2026, each capable of transporting over 7,000 vehicles and equipped with dual-fuel propulsion systems. BYD has ordered three more vessels of the same size from China Merchants Industry, all scheduled for delivery this year. With these new vessels, BYD’s fleet will boast an annual transport capacity of over one million vehicles.