The key feature of this shipment lies in the specialised design and equipment of the vessels employed. The vehicles are driven under their own power in a continuous flow onto pre-assigned spaces on enclosed decks, preventing seawater from reaching the bodywork regardless of weather conditions. Thousands of lashing points on the decks allow each wheel to be securely fastened with straps in approximately two minutes, ensuring rapid loading and discharge. A total of 1,995 new Hyundai Sonata vehicles were delivered from Tianjin to Pyeongtaek in just nine days.

A Ro-Ro vessel (PCTC) is purpose-built exclusively for transporting wheeled cargo. Its key advantages include:

Roll-on/Roll-off access

A stern ramp up to 12 m wide, with an inclination of no more than 8°, allows vehicles to be driven aboard without cranes.

Internal decks

Deck heights ranging from 1.65 m to 2.2 m accommodate passenger vehicles.

Lashing system

Vehicles are secured by the wheels using dedicated lashing equipment attached to deck-mounted lashing points.

Ventilation

Forced extraction of exhaust gases during loading and discharge operations.

Capacity

Up to 800 CEU (Car Equivalent Units)

Loading/discharge: loading by shore-based portal cranes; discharge by the vessel’s own cranes.

The vessel successfully completed the transportation of 25,000 tonnes of steel billets from the Port of Vanino to the Port of Taichung. Cargo operations were completed without delays or claims. The average daily discharge rate using the vessel’s cranes reached 3,500 tonnes per day, demonstrating the high reliability of the cargo-handling equipment.

Cargo behaviour during transportation.

Steel billets are a heavy cargo liable to shifting. During passage through the Taiwan Strait, where sea conditions of force 4–5 may occur, inertial forces can cause unsecured bundles to move.

The vessel’s stability and safety were fully maintained through accurate cargo-stowage calculations; maximum stress in the hull structure did not exceed the allowable level of 65%.

The passage from sub-zero temperatures in Vanino to the subtropical climate of Taichung causes a sharp temperature change inside the holds, inevitably resulting in condensation on the metal surface. Nevertheless, the cargo remained fully controlled throughout the voyage. To minimise oxidation, the crew measured hold temperature and humidity daily and maintained the required ventilation regime.

Port of loading: Sovetskaya Gavan (Russian Far East basin; deep-water terminal operating throughout the winter season).

Port of discharge: Gwangyang (South Korea), one of Asia’s largest metallurgical hubs, receiving concentrates for further processing.

Transit time: 3–4 days, subject to weather conditions and passage through the Korea Strait.

This route is a key link in the export supply chain for Russian copper raw materials to Asian markets.

Cargo: copper concentrate in big bags

Quantity: 8,032.126 tonnes

Copper concentrate is classified as a higher-risk bulk cargo because it may compact, shift or, under certain conditions, self-heat and ignite. To ensure maximum cargo integrity and compliance with the IMSBC Code, it was presented for carriage in valve-type flexible intermediate bulk containers (big bags) fitted with polyethylene liners, each with a net weight of 1.5–2.0 tonnes.

Advantages of this packaging method:

• Prevents dust generation and loss of concentrate.
• Simplifies stevedoring operations, including crane handling and stacking.
• Allows separate discharge of cargo lots of different grades.
• Reduces the risk of self-heating and ignition through controlled hold ventilation.