Chinese industry has reached another logistical milestone through the delivery of the first pure car/truck carrier(PCTC) built at a domestic yard specifically for the export of Chinese-made vehicles.

Chartered by fast-growing manufacturer BYD, the 7,000CEU-capacity BYD Explorer No.1 was constructed by Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore and is under the management of London-headquartered Zodiac Maritime.

Classed by DNV and powered by LNG dual-fuel machinery, the vessel was handed over on January 8 and subsequently loaded a mixed cargo of vehicles, first at Yantai and then at Shenzhen’s Xiaomo terminal complex, destined for the European market via ports in the Netherlands and Germany.