APM Terminals Pipavav receives one of the world's largest vehicle carriers

MUMBAI: APM Terminals Pipavav Thursday said it received the Hoegh Tracer, one of the world’s largest pure car and truck carrier ( PCTC), and the largest to ever call an Indian port.

At 14 decks high, the Hoegh Tracer has a capacity of 8,500 vehicles, and loaded 1,700 cars at Pipavav for export delivery on the Hoegh Middle East, India and Africa (MIAF) Service, APM Terminals said in a statement.

APM Terminals Pipavav, in partnership with NYK Auto Logistics (India), opened a dedicated common user integrated Roll on Roll off (RoRo) terminal in August of 2015, with a capacity of 250,000 vehicles annually.

Roll-on/roll-off ships are vessels that are used to carry wheeled cargo. The RoRo ship is different from LoLo (lift on-lift off) ship that uses a crane to load the cargo.

The vehicles in a RoRo vessel are loaded and unloaded by means of built-in ramps.

APM's port is equipped to accommodate 4,500 to 5,000 cars and a Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) facility. There is also a mobilization yard for 150 cars, with a capacity to accommodate approximately 500 cars on the quay.

APM Terminals Pipapav along with NYK Auto Logistics provides logistic support to auto manufacturers in western India for export and for inter-Indian port coastal shipping.