The island province of Hainan is gearing up for an anticipated surge in visitors during the 2025 Spring Festival travel rush, especially an increasing number of new energy vehicles for self-driving tours.

The specialized transport ship for NEVs, Lv Yuan Yi Hao, embarked on its maiden voyage from Haikou Xiuying Port, Hainan across the Qiongzhou Strait on Dec 29. Following that, another NEV transport vessel, Lv Yuan Er Hao, completed its first journey on Jan 8. The two vessels are dedicated to ferrying NEVs across the Qiongzhou Strait to Guangdong province, boosting transport capacity and ensuring heightened safety measures as the Spring Festival travel rush kicks off on Tuesday.

During Lv Yuan Er Hao's debut voyage, 165 new energy cars and trucks were ferried across the Qiongzhou Strait. Captain Huang Wanli said that the voyage, mainly involving the loading of logistics company vehicles, aimed to test operational processes and loading safety in readiness for upcoming NEV transport operations.

Measuring 129.8 meters in length, 28 meters in width and weighing 7,404 metric tons, the reconstructed vessel is set to navigate the route between Zhanjiang in Guangdong province to Haikou. It stands as the largest deck cargo ship tailored for NEV transport across the Qiongzhou Strait, and has room for about 160 vehicles without passenger accommodation. Drivers and accompanying personnel are concurrently transported by supporting passenger ships.

"This new transport model not only mitigates inherent safety risks associated with NEVs, but also addresses space issues in NEV transport ships, offering substantial economic and social benefits as the preferred mode for sea transport of NEVs," Huang said.

To cater to the transportation needs of NEVs, the vessel underwent diverse modifications. The vehicle loading and unloading operation involves five lanes with vehicles facing the bow and another five lanes with vehicles facing the stern, following a circular motion facilitated by the single-deck layout. Huang noted that this layout offers a more direct and convenient experience for drivers compared to multi-deck passenger ships, ensuring loading and unloading times are comparable, if not quicker, despite carrying more vehicles.

The captain highlighted the implementation of firefighting measures, including water cannons with a 75-meter range on both ends of the ship for comprehensive coverage. The deck features two isolation channels to contain any fire outbreak and prevent its spread, bolstering safety with additional firefighting-related facilities.

"We will collect feedback during the operation of the new vessel, optimize processes, enhance operational efficiency, and provide a more convenient and high-quality cross-sea experience for drivers and accompanying passengers," said Huang.

The number of passenger cars traveling to and from the island province via the Qiongzhou Strait is expected to reach 773,000 trips during the 2025 Spring Festival travel rush, showing a 2.7 percent year-on-year increase. Meanwhile, 390,000 trips of freight trucks are projected to traverse the Qiongzhou Strait to and from the tropical island, indicating an annual growth of about 6.2 percent, according to a news conference held in Haikou on Dec 20.

Beginning Dec 31, 2024, visitors intending to travel to Hainan by car can purchase entry tickets to the island 15 days prior to their planned visit, and tickets for departure from the island will be accessible for purchase 30 days in advance of the travel date, local authorities announced on Dec 20.