yue hai tie i hao – Hainan rail link launched

China’s first-ever rail ferry service was launched in January 2003 with the introduction of Yue Hai Tie I Hao, which was purpose built to link the mainland railway terminal at Zhanjiang, in Guangdong Province, and Haikou, the provincial capital of Hainan Island. The 14,381gt newbuilding, designed by Maric (Marine Design and Research Institute of China) in Shanghai, was constructed at the Shanghai-based shipyard of Jiangnan Shipbuilding Heavy Industry.

Built at a cost of about $25m, the 165.40 metre long ferry has a deadweight of 5,700 tonnes and is capable of carrying 40 cargo wagons or an 18-car passenger train. The transom stern is open, thereby enabling all four rail tracks to be simultaneously loaded and unloaded. The vessel has stowage space for 50 road trucks or trailers or around 150 cars.

The Yue Hai Tie I Hao was featured in the May 2003 issue of The Motor Ship.