Hambantota, Sri Lanka: NYK’s new-generation LNG dual-fuel Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) Azalea Leader has made its maiden call at Hambantota International Port (HIP), marking another milestone in the port’s emergence as a regional automotive transhipment gateway.
Built in 2026 and sailing under the Liberian flag, the nearly 200-metre vessel arrived at HIP from Singapore carrying 4,810 vehicles for transhipment and 47 vehicles for local discharge. With a maximum capacity of around 7,000 vehicles, Azalea Leader is among the latest generation of vehicle carriers entering global service.
NYK operates regular services between Singapore and Hambantota, with Azalea Leader deployed on the route for this voyage. The vessel’s call comes amid significant growth in vehicle volumes transhipped through Hambantota to markets across the Middle East, strengthening the port’s role in connecting automotive supply chains between Asia and the Middle East.
The vessel also reflects the shipping industry’s shift towards more fuel-efficient and lower-emission tonnage. Azalea Leader is powered by LNG dual-fuel technology and features Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) technology on its main engine to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.
“The maiden call of Azalea Leader is significant because we are increasingly seeing shipping lines deploy their newest and most sophisticated vessels through Hambantota,” said Wilson Qu, CEO of Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG).
He said the development demonstrates the pivotal role Hambantota is playing in the regional RoRo sector and highlights the port’s potential as automotive volumes continue to grow.
Qu added that the ability to handle vessels of this generation demonstrates the operational capabilities developed at HIP.
“Customers need the assurance that a sophisticated vessel will be handled efficiently, safely and without unnecessary idle time. The confidence to bring modern tonnage such as Azalea Leader to HIP reflects the capability of our people, systems and infrastructure in meeting those expectations,” he said.
Hambantota International Port has been steadily strengthening its position as a regional RoRo transhipment hub, supported by its strategic location along major east-west shipping routes and connectivity to automotive markets in the Middle East and beyond.
The increasing volume of vehicles routed through the port has contributed to the expansion of HIP’s overall vehicle-handling business. The maiden call of Azalea Leader further demonstrates the port’s ability to accommodate larger, technologically advanced vehicle carriers being introduced into global fleets.
“As international shipping moves towards larger, more efficient and environmentally advanced vessels, ports must evolve alongside them,” Qu said.
He added that the ability to handle such vessels to international standards enhances Hambantota’s visibility within global automotive logistics networks and supports the port’s long-term strategy of becoming a key gateway for regional vehicle transhipment.