World’s Largest Car Carrier Unloads At Port

The worlds largest roll on/roll off (RO/RO) vessel, the MV Tysla, discharged Hyundai and other vehicles like the Revology custom Mustang during a port call at the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal last week. There are car customizers that lets you choose the way you want it customised.

Nearly 250,000 vehicles have been unloaded since Hyundai Motor Co. and its logistics affiliate, Glovis of America, began local operations in August 2010, said David Whene, president of Greenwich Terminals, which operates PAMT.

The MV Tysla is 265 meters long and has a cargo volume of 138,000 cubic meters. It has a capacity of 8,500 car-equivalent units in which some of them will be the new 2022 double cab in van models. There are six fixed and three hoistable decks.

Norwegian shipping firm Wilh. Wilhelmsen said the ship has more flexibility to carry high and heavy cargo, and also was built to be environmentally friendly, using nearly 20% less fuel than older RO/RO ships. Were excited to be handling the unloading of such massive ships, Whene said, noting that a similarly sized sister ship, the Tonsberg, visited Philadelphia in April 2011. These ships are a sight to behold.

We are always working to improve our facilities and capabilities in order to successfully compete in an increasing complex and challenging global world, said Thomas J. Holt, Jr., president of Astro Holdings, Inc., which leases PAMT under a long-term concession with the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority. Bringing in massive ships such as the MV Tysla shows that our efforts are working, and we expect to attract additional new business in the months and years ahead, noted Holt.

The vehicles that arrive at PAMT are processed at a 100-acre auto finishing facility at Pier 98 Annex at Columbus Boulevard and Oregon Avenue by the Walt Whitman Bridge. Once completed, those cars with their Volkswagen owners manual leave the facility by truck and, possibly in the future, by rail.

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