7000 BYD Can Find a Place on This Low-Emission Boat

BYD has taken an important step with the first seven-day sea trial of its new roll-on/roll-off ship.

This BYD 7000 dual-fuel car carrier project represents, according to the Chinese Group, a “green and low-carbon emission version 2.0” of maritime transport. It holds strategic importance in BYD’s efforts to improve its logistics and distribution capabilities while controlling its carbon footprint.

A roll-on/roll-off ship, also called Ro-Ro (short for the English term Roll-on/Roll-off, meaning “enter by rolling in/exit by rolling out”) is a vessel used for transporting vehicles. It is equipped with a mobile access ramp allowing direct loading and unloading, without intervention from third-party machines, of cars into the ship’s holds.

The BYD 7000 dual-fuel ship is part of the PCTC series. With a length of 199.9 meters, a width of 38 meters, and a draft of 9 meters, it can travel at a cruising speed of 18.5 knots (34.3 km/h). These figures are not extraordinary, but what sets it apart from other vessels is the adoption of a dual-fuel propulsion system using liquefied natural gas (LNG) and fossil fuel, marking a significant step toward cleaner energy solutions in maritime transport. Additionally, the ship integrates a battery system for the first time. BYD is expected to operate two such vessels quickly, while ultimately a fleet of ten ships has been ordered from Chinese shipyards in Yantai and Guangzhou, with a total investment of 650 million euros.

With cumulative exports expected to exceed 300,000 units in 2023—four times higher than the previous year—the operation of roll-on/roll-off ships has become a key element of BYD’s development strategy, but also a major source of pollution. These ships should enable the company to significantly reduce its carbon footprint and thus become more environmentally friendly in the eyes of lawmakers.

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