Tag Archives: Cargo ships

News

Geely Launches Its First Ro-Ro Ship “JISU Fortune” to Boost Global Vehicle Exports

In a bold step towards reinforcing its global logistics network, Geely Holding has launched its first self-owned roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) vessel, the Geely JISU Fortune. Operated by JISU Logistics, the cutting-edge ship embarked on its maiden voyage from the port of Taicang, China, carrying 5,000 vehicles destined for the European market.

At nearly 200 meters in length and 38 meters wide, the JISU Fortune is a formidable addition to Geely’s export capabilities. The vessel boasts a maximum cruising speed of 19 knots and can carry up to 7,000 vehicles across 12 cargo decks—eight fixed and four movable. Notably, the 11th and 12th decks are specifically designed for transporting hydrogen and natural gas-powered vehicles, aligning with Geely’s commitment to cleaner mobility.

But the ship’s green credentials don’t stop there. The JISU Fortune is powered by two ultra-large UPP fuel tanks, each with a capacity of 2,000 cubic meters. By utilizing green UPP fuel, the vessel dramatically reduces both emissions and energy consumption, setting a new benchmark for sustainable maritime transport in the automotive sector.

Ro-ro ships, as the name suggests, are designed for rolling cargo—vehicles such as cars, trucks, and trailers are driven directly on and off the vessel. This method offers considerable efficiency for high-volume vehicle exports, something Geely is clearly aiming to capitalize on with the JISU Fortune.

The ship will be pivotal in delivering vehicles from across Geely’s expanding portfolio—including Geely Auto, Lynk & Co, Zeekr, and other affiliated brands—to international markets in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. This move not only strengthens Geely’s global reach but also enhances the sustainability and efficiency of its supply chain.

In an era where the automotive industry is shifting toward smarter and greener logistics solutions, JISU Fortune stands as a symbol of innovation and ambition. It’s not just a ship—it’s Geely’s floating commitment to the future of global mobility.

Source: Geely

News

BYD ordered 7 new cargo ships

The largest Chinese car manufacturer, BYD, became one of the top 10 largest manufacturers in the world last year with 3,024,417 vehicles produced. In an effort to expand its business outside of China, their first target is the European market, where they are lagging behind the competition. In order to meet the goals and the increasing demand, the speed of transporting cars to Europe is needed, and for this reason, BYD ordered 7 new cargo ships.

The development of the automobile industry in China is expanding, primarily fully electric vehicles, which are killing competition worldwide with low production costs and subsidies provided by the Chinese government. Thanks to that, in 2023 China became the world’s largest car exporter with 4.91 million vehicles. That is one million vehicles more than Japan, which was the world’s largest exporter for decades.

BYD currently owns one transport ship (BYD Explorer No.1) built by a local company, whose capacity is 7,000 cars. That is not enough, so the additional 7 ships will help this Chinese giant to transport its cars around the world faster. Currently, Chinese companies own less than 50 car cargo ships, and their combined capacity is less than 150,000 vehicles. In comparison, Japanese companies have ships that can transport 1.6 million vehicles.

How serious a player BYD is is also shown by the fact that it invests 14 billion dollars in the development of advanced technology, especially the ADAS system, which will make its cars safer on the road. The company also invests in marketing, thus becoming an official partner of UEFA Euro 2024, which will be held in Germany this summer.

Source: Reuters