Jebel Ali Port welcomes COSCO Shipping’s LNG dual-fuel RoRo ship

UAE-based logistics giant DP World has welcomed COSCO Shipping’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) ship Min Jiang Kou to Jebel Ali Port for the very first time.

The LNG dual-fuel vessel, one of the largest in the world with a capacity for 7,500 parking spaces, called on Jebel Ali Port on its maiden voyage from Shanghai, carrying 4,800 vehicles.

Alongside its sister ship, Liao He Kou, the vessel is part of COSCO’s new automobile fleet, designed with multiple advanced green technologies to reduce carbon emissions and conserve energy consumption.

The new vessels were designed by the Shanghai Ship Design Institute and built by Fujian Shipbuilding Industry Group.

Featuring 13 decks, including four rise-and-fall decks, the vessel can accommodate a variety of vehicles such as passenger cars, trucks, and self-propelled engineering machinery.

COSCO said that thanks to the LNG dual-fuel power and multiple advanced green environmental protection technologies, the vessels are designed to meet TIER III emission standards of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and will “significantly” save energy and reduce emissions during operation.

“We are proud to be the first port in the region to welcome COSCO’s dual-fuel RoRo vessel, the Min Jiang Kou. The vessel is at the forefront of green shipping and represents the gearshift taking place in our sector as we continue to decarbonise the global supply chain. With Dubai being a major global hub for the automotive industry, we look forward to strengthening our partnership with COSCO and seeing Min Jiang Kou and her sister vessels many more times to come,” Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director, DP World GCC, said.

“We are delighted to see Min Jiang Kou make her maiden call at Jebel Ali Port, a key hub for automotive trade. As the largest RoRo vessel in our fleet, the Min Jiang Kou enhances our ability to efficiently transport vehicles while promoting sustainable maritime practices. By leveraging LNG dual-fuel technology and other green solutions, we are significantly reducing our environmental footprint. Our partnership with DP World is crucial in advancing our shared goals of sustainability and efficiency in global trade,” Zhang Chi, Deputy General Manager, COSCO Shipping Specialised Carriers, added.

In 2023, DP World handled 616,000 car equivalent units at Jebel Ali Port, with more than 130,000 coming from China.