Chinese shipping company the SAIC Group, through subsidiary Anji Logistics, recently took delivery of a new pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Nanjing).
Anji Soundness belongs to the same series as Anji Ansheng, which was handed over to SAIC in 2024. The Ultra-Panamax PCTC has an LOA of 228 metres (748 feet), a beam of 37.8 metres (124 feet), a draught of 10.3 metres (33.8 feet), and a total capacity of 9,500 CEUs.
The vehicle decks are fitted with individual vehicle straps capable of holding up to 2.5 tons to prevent cargo from shifting even as the ship encounters large waves while underway. Intelligent systems will meanwhile help enhance cargo efficiency, allowing loading to full capacity to be completed in less time.
In addition to vehicles, the decks may also be used for the transport of other types of heavy freight such as construction equipment.
The propulsion system consists of a main engine driving a propeller and a bow thruster. To ensure compliance with IMO Tier III emissions regulations, the main and auxiliary engines are fitted with selective catalytic reduction systems and exhaust after-treatment systems.
The engines and the boilers may also be configured to allow operation on methanol as a low-emission alternative fuel in the future.
The vessel is also equipped with an intelligent system that uses 1,300 monitoring points for data collection. Through this system, the crew as well as personnel at a shore-based operations centre will be able to review data on the ship’s various operating parameters with the aim of managing energy consumption.
The system can also trigger immediate alerts for the crew in the event of anomalies.
A satellite-based navigation system optimises navigation to help reduce fuel consumption over the same distances by as much as 15 per cent.
Anji Soundness, which will be used primarily for the transport of Chinese-built cars for distribution to European markets, is also the first of 14 ocean-going vessels SAIC plans to build over the next three years under an investment of CNY10 billion (US$1.4 billion).
| Anji Soundness | |
|---|---|
| SPECIFICATIONS | |
| Type of vessel: | Pure car and truck carrier |
| Flag: | Liberia |
| Owner: | SAIC Group, China |
| Operator: | Anji Logistics, China |
| Builder: | China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Nanjing) |
| Length overall: | 228 metres (748 feet) |
| Beam: | 37.8 metres (124 feet) |
| Draught: | 10.3 metres (33.8 feet) |
| Capacity: | 9,500 CEUs |
| Other equipment installed: | Selective catalytic reduction systems; exhaust after-treatment systems |