UAE-based the AD Ports Group and the Zhejiang Provincial Seaport Investment and Operation Group (Ningbo Zhoushan Port Group) have entered into a preliminary agreement to establish a comprehensive automotive logistics ecosystem connecting Chinese manufacturing capabilities with Middle Eastern, Central Asian, and African markets.
The partners seek to achieve the objective through integrated terminal operations, dedicated fleet services, and multimodal transport solutions.
The agreement outlines plans to reciprocatively develop Ro-Ro and automotive terminals at Ningbo Zhoushan Port and the AD Ports Group’s hub locations.
Enhancements considered under this agreement include, accommodating larger vessels, increasing vehicle handling capacity and reducing turnaround times at the ports.
The AD Ports Group said these improvements aim to boost operational efficiency, "while delivering world-class performance standards and customer service."
Plans include, to use United Global Ro-Ro (UGR), a joint venture formed between the AD Ports Group and Erkport. as the designated Ro-Ro carrier, which has a specialised PCTC and Ro-Ro vessel fleet. UGR already operates Ro-Ro services connecting China with terminals in the Middle East, Asia and the Mediterranean.