On June 13, Chinese automaker SAIC officially took delivery of the new pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) Anji Soundness, which immediately departed on its maiden voyage to transport cars and construction machinery.
The vessel was built by China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Nanjing and delivered via SAIC’s logistics subsidiary, Anji Logistics. Flying the Liberian flag, the ship measures 228 meters in length, 37.8 meters in beam, and has a gross tonnage of 87,000 tons. Anji Soundness can carry up to 9,500 car equivalent units (CEU), making it one of the largest vessels of its kind.
Designed with future alternative fuels in mind, the vessel can be retrofitted to operate on methanol and is equipped with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems and exhaust gas after-treatment, fully compliant with IMO Tier III emission standards.
The maiden voyage includes stops at Chinese ports Shanghai, Lianyungang, and Yantai to load vehicles and equipment. From there, Anji Soundness will sail to Europe, delivering cargo to the Netherlands, the UK, Belgium, and Germany. The journey will take the vessel around the Cape of Good Hope, covering roughly 16,000 nautical miles over 40 days.
