Hainan province is preparing for a surge in visitors during the 2025 Spring Festival travel rush, with an increasing number of new energy vehicles (NEVs) expected for self-driving tours. To accommodate this demand, specialized transport vessels are now operating to ferry NEVs across the Qiongzhou Strait.
The first vessel, Lv Yuan Yi Hao, made its maiden voyage from Haikou Xiuying Port on Dec 29, while the second, Lv Yuan Er Hao, completed its first journey on Jan 8. These vessels are dedicated to transporting NEVs between Hainan and Guangdong province, expanding transport capacity and ensuring safety measures are in place as the travel rush begins.
On the debut voyage of Lv Yuan Er Hao, 165 new energy cars and trucks were ferried. The vessel, which spans 129.8 meters in length and 28 meters in width, is the largest of its kind for NEV transport across the Qiongzhou Strait, with room for approximately 160 vehicles. The design eliminates the need for passenger accommodations, with drivers and their accompanying personnel transported by separate passenger ships.
The new transport model addresses safety risks associated with NEVs and maximizes the efficiency of the vessel’s capacity. It includes five lanes for vehicles facing the bow and five lanes for those facing the stern, creating a circular flow for efficient loading and unloading. The vessel also features advanced firefighting systems, including water cannons and isolation channels, to ensure safety during operations.
The increased capacity of these vessels is expected to help manage the expected 773,000 passenger car trips and 390,000 freight truck trips across the Qiongzhou Strait during the Spring Festival travel period, marking a 2.7% and 6.2% increase in traffic, respectively.
Local authorities have also announced that visitors traveling to Hainan by car can now purchase entry tickets up to 15 days before their visit, with return tickets available 30 days in advance.
