(Yicai) April 29 -- A subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation has delivered the world’s largest roll-on/roll-off vehicle carrier by capacity to South Korean container shipping giant HMM, marking a new breakthrough for China’s high-end shipbuilding sector.

CSSC Guangzhou Shipyard International handed over Glovis Leader to HMM, formerly known as Hyundai Merchant Marine, during a delivery and naming ceremony in Guangzhou’s Nansha district yesterday, the Chinese firm announced on the same day. The ship was immediately passed to its operator Hyundai Glovis, which is controlled by South Korean automakers Hyundai Motor and Kia.

Glovis Leader has 14 vehicle decks and can carry up to 10,800 autos, allowing it to handle a broad mix of cargo, from electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles to heavy-duty trucks and other models.

The vessel has a service speed of 19 knots and is powered by a liquefied natural gas and marine diesel oil dual-fuel system. It meets the International Maritime Organization’s Tier III emissions standards, boasting outstanding advantages in environmental performance, energy efficiency, and operational safety.

At the ceremony, HMM President Choi Won Hyuk said the Glovis Leader, together with four sister vessels yet to be delivered and three 8,600-vehicle pure car and truck carriers handed over last year, will underpin the company’s expansion into vehicle shipping.

China was the world's largest shipbuilding country last year, marking its 16th consecutive year at the head of the global market.

CSSC Guangzhou Shipyard has secured more than 40 PCTC orders. So far, it has built and delivered 19 7,000-vehicle carriers, six 8,600-vehicle vessels, and one 10,800-vehicle LNG/MDO dual-fuel ro-ro ship, providing a nearly 200,000 vehicle transport capacity for global automotive trade.

Company executives said the shipyard’s order backlog stands at about CNY1 trillion (USD137.5 billion), with more than 95 percent of contracts coming from overseas clients and its production schedule is fully booked through 2030.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Futura Costaglione