Car carrier AICC HUANGHU crosses Suez Canal on its first maritime voyage

CAIRO - 13 February 2025: The vehicle carrier AICC HUANGHU crossed the Suez Canal on its first maritime voyage, carrying 4,202 cars. The ship, part of the southern convoy, departed from the port of Shanghai in China and is heading to the port of Dernis in Turkey.

The vessel, registered under the flag of the Marshall Islands, is 199 meters long, 38 meters wide, and has a draft of 10 meters. It boasts a capacity of up to 7,000 cars and features environmentally friendly technology, including a dual-fuel engine that can operate on liquefied natural gas.

This car carrier is the first of four similar vessels that the Chinese shipping line AICC plans to build this year for operations between Asia and Europe, all of which will pass through the Suez Canal.

Admiral Osama Rabie, head of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), emphasized that the passage of such ships signals the growing interest among ship owners and operators in using the Suez Canal, thanks to its strategic importance in global trade. The Canal offers significant time, cost, and fuel savings, making it the ideal and fastest option for maintaining sustainable global supply chains.

Rabie explained that the Suez Canal shortens the journey between Shanghai and Dernis by about 45 percent. The alternative Cape of Good Hope route spans around 14,600 nautical miles, while the Suez Canal route is just 8,071 nautical miles, resulting in a travel time reduction of about 18 days. This also leads to savings in operational costs, fuel consumption, and a reduction in harmful carbon emissions.

The ship's captain also noted that the Chinese shipping line chose the Suez Canal for its efficiency. The Cape of Good Hope route, which requires longer distances and often passes through rough weather, consumes more fuel and negatively impacts the marine environment.