On June 21, BYD’s dual-fuel 9200 CEU PCTC “BYD XI’AN” built by China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Nanjing) (“CMJL (Nanjing)”) was successfully delivered, which is another milestone in BYD’s global strategic layout. It is worth mentioning that the equally high-profile “BYD CHANGSHA” is also about to be delivered.
“BYD XI’AN” is named after the city of Xi’an. It not only carries BYD’s origin of car manufacturing from Xi’an, but also symbolizes that the brand uses this vessel as a new starting point for its overseas expansion. It carries the beautiful vision of resonating with BYD’s overseas development, and uses “green power” to carry Chinese new energy vehicles to the world.
As the sister vessel of BYD SHENZHEN, BYD XI’AN continues the former’s excellent design and top configuration. With a total length of 219.9 meters, a beam of 37.7 meters, a service speed of 19 knots, a total of 16 decks, and 9,200 standard loading spaces, it is one of the world’s largest LNG dual-fuel car carriers currently in operation. In terms of power technology, BYD XI’AN also uses the latest LNG dual-fuel clean power technology, which effectively improves the energy conservation and emission reduction efficiency of the vessel.
On January 10, 2024, BYD’s first 7,000 CEU PCTC “EXPLORER NO.1” was delivered in Yantai, Shandong. The vessel was built by CIMC Raffles for shipowner Zodiac Maritime and leased to BYD. It is the first vessel of BYD’s “sea-going fleet”.
On November 29, 2024, BYD’s second 7,000 CEU PCTC “Changzhou” (BYD CHANGZHOU), also built by CIMC Raffles, set sail from Yantai, Shandong, and headed for Western Europe. The vessel was also ordered by Zodiac Maritime and leased to BYD.
On January 7, 2025, the 7,000 CEU dual-fuel PCTC “BYD HEFEI” built by GSI for BYD was named and delivered. GSI contracted to build two 7,000 CEU PCTCs for BYD. The contract was signed in early 2023. This order is the first car carrier ordered by BYD as the final cargo owner.
On January 15, 2025, the 9,200 CEU LNG dual-fuel PCTC “Shenzhen” built by BYD CMJL (Nanjing) was launched in Yizheng, Jiangsu. “BYD Shenzhen” will be the fourth car carrier received by BYD and also BYD’s first 9,200 CEU car carrier.
In March 2025, BYD’s fifth PCTC “BYD Changsha”, built by China Merchants Heavy Industries Haimen shipyard (CMHI Haimen shipyard), was launched and is expected to be delivered in May. This is also BYD’s second 9,200 CEU car carrier.
On April 2, 2025, BYD’s sixth PCTC, BYD Xi’an, built by CMJL (Nanjing), was officially launched. The 7th “BYD Zhengzhou” (capacity of 7,000 vehicles) and the 8th “BYD Jinan” (capacity of 9,200 vehicles) are expected to be delivered and put into operation in August-September this year.
It is reported that the “BYD XI’AN” delivered this time is the fifth car carrier received by BYD. According to the plan, BYD will build 8 ro-ro vessels by 2026 to form a “sea fleet” with an annual transport capacity of more than one million new energy vehicles. Among them, 2 7000 CEU vessels have been built and delivered by CIMC Raffles, 2 7000 CEU vessels were built by Guangzhou Shipyard International, 2 9200 CEU vessels were built by CMJL (Nanjing), and the last 2 9200 CEU vessels were built by CMHI Haimen shipyard.