On 23 November 2009, the first Ro-Ro service to call in Shenzhen made its inaugural visit at YICT. The Yantian-Tianjin Service will carry vehicles for BYD Auto, a Shenzhen-based automobile manufacturer.
At a quay-side ceremony attended by Shenzhen Vice-Mayor Zhang Siping; Yuan Baocheng, CPC Committee Secretary of Yantian District; Zheng Hongjie, Chairman of the Board of Yantian Port Group; and YICT Managing Director Hai Chi-yuet, 120 BYD cars were loaded on board the Chang Xing Long. The vessel is deployed by China Changjiang National Shipping Corporation RoRo Logistics Company Ltd. The carrier is Yantian Port Logistics Co.
For YICT, the launch of a Ro-Ro service represents a key milestone in its drive to attract cargo from a variety of sources. Ro-Ro shipping is also valued by automobile manufacturers for the many advantages it offers over trucking.
The shipping of automobiles by Ro-Ro vessels is secure, cost-effective, and easy to schedule. Ro-Ro shipping is also less subject to bad weather than trucking. These benefits are important for high-value products such as automobiles, which require higher standards of shipping.
Close proximity to BYD's manufacturing centre in Longgang District and the terminal's premium services were the major reasons why BYD chose YICT as the point of departure in Shenzhen for its vehicles.