Recently, the world’s largest PCTC (pure car and track carrier) – “BYD SHENZHEN” set sail in Yangzhou.
“BYD SHENZHEN” has an overall length of 219 meters, a beam of 37.7 meters, a design draft of 9 meters, with a design speed of 18.5 knots and a loading capacity of 9,200 vehicles. The PCTC is powered by LNG dual-fuel, adopts various energy-saving measures such as drag-reducing anti-fouling paint, and for the first time installs and applies BYD box-type battery packs and shaft generators, making it the world’s largest and most environmentally friendly ro-ro automobile vessel at present.
It is understood that “BYD SHENZHEN” will be the fourth car carrier BYD has received in the past year. On January 10, 2024, BYD’s first PCTC “EXPLORER NO.1” was delivered at Yantai Port in Shandong Province and made its maiden voyage five days later. On November 29, 2024, BYD’s fleet welcomed the second PCTC “BYD Changzhou”, which set sail from Yantai, Shandong Province for Western Europe. On January 7, 2025, BYD fleet expanded with the addition of “ BYD Hefei”, which is the first PCTC ordered by BYD as the final cargo owner.
It is worth noting that BYD’s first three PCTCs can carry 7,000 cars, while the “BYD Shenzhen” has a capacity of 9,200 cars.
After the delivery of “BYD SHENZHEN”, BYD will have four newly built high-specification PCTCs. In January last year, when BYD took delivery of “EXPLORER NO.1”, BYD disclosed that seven other PCTCs would be put into operation in the next two years. This means that by January 2026, BYD will have received at least four more new vessels.