An international ro-ro vessel carrying 4,271 vehicles bound for the Persian Gulf set sail from Shanghai Nangang Terminal in the Lin-gang Special Area on May 31. This marked the 74th ro-ro vessel departure from Nangang in May, with the terminal handling over 120,000 vehicles during the month, up 101.3 percent year-on-year and a new monthly record.

The terminal experienced explosive growth in vehicle imports and exports in May. A total of 150 ro-ro vessels called at Nangang, up 8.7 percent year-on-year, handling over 121,000 vehicles. Exports exceeded 71,000 units, soaring by 204.4 percent compared to the same period last year — both new monthly highs.

A vehicle is unloaded from a ro-ro vessel at Nangang Terminal. [Photo/Jiefang Daily]

To address the time-sensitive nature of ro-ro operations, Yangshan Port Maritime Safety Administration streamlined approval processes for water and land transportation, ensuring efficient vessel turnaround.

Lin-gang Special Area currently boasts a complete ecosystem of "R&D-manufacturing-logistics", with leading companies like Tesla's Gigafactory and SAIC's IM Motors located within the zone. Thirteen international ro-ro routes connect Shanghai to 72 countries and regions across six continents.

Additionally, Nangang Terminal offers "ship-to-ship" liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel bunkering services, attracting LNG-powered ro-ro vessels and enhancing Shanghai's status as an international shipping hub.