Newly manufactured cars are lined up to be transported onto a cargo vessel set for Malaysia at Ningbo-Zhoushan Port on Jan 2. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

A roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) cargo ship containing 2,300 cars manufactured in Zhejiang on board set sail from Ningbo-Zhoushan Port to Malaysia on Jan 3, marking the commencement of the province's first ro-ro ship route for foreign trade.

A ro-ro ship is a vessel designed to carry wheeled cargo, such as cars and trucks that are driven on and off the ship on their own wheels or using a platform vehicle.

This time, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, the world's largest port in terms of cargo throughput, joined hands with the leading Chinese car manufacturer Geely and launched the ro-ro ship route directly connecting Ningbo, the manufacturing base, and Malaysia, the export market.

In recent years, the port has been striving to build itself into a pivotal hub for China's connections with countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It has been serving domestic manufacturers, and helping to facilitate their export business to BRI regions.

Cars are driven on the ship on their own wheels at Ningbo-Zhoushan Port on Jan 2. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]