Recently, several Chinese shipbuilding enterprises have successfully hit key milestones in their first-of-class new vessel projects. This not only demonstrates the spirit of bold breakthroughs and forging ahead of China’s shipbuilding enterprises, but also reflects the depth and breadth of technological accumulation of China’s shipbuilding industry across various vessel types.
Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry Commences Construction of the First 80,000 DWT Universal Bulk Carrier
A groundbreaking ceremony for the first vessel in the series of 80,000 DWT universal bulk carriers built by Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry for CITIC Financial Leasing was recently held successfully. The start of construction of this vessel not only marks the phased progress of the series cooperation project, but also is a milestone for Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry to expand the bulk carrier market and improve its ship product portfolio. Meanwhile, it provides an important demonstration and guidance for the subsequent batch construction of vessels. Notably, the adoption of a Universal Assembly System in the construction process has standardized modular assembly procedures, enabling precise integration of hull components and key systems while significantly reducing construction cycles—laying a solid technical foundation for efficient batch production.
The optimized hull lines of the vessel have laid a solid foundation for achieving high-efficiency navigation performance and economic efficiency. The vessel is integrated with a high-pressure selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system and an exhaust gas scrubber to ensure compliance with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Tier III emission standards. Equipped with 7 large cargo holds, the vessel is dedicated to dry bulk cargo transportation. Its unique design highlight lies in the robust hatch cover structure, which allows safe stacking of up to 1,000 standard containers on top. This significantly enhances the vessel’s versatility and route flexibility, realizing an innovative combination of bulk cargo and container transportation.
Zhonghang Shipbuilding Names the First 50,000 DWT MR Oil/Chemical Tanker
Recently, Taizhou Zhonghang Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. named the 50,000 DWT MR oil/chemical tanker “TOP OCEAN” built for Dingsheng Shipping.
Zhonghang Shipbuilding and Dingsheng Shipping have maintained a solid cooperation with fruitful results covering 11 vessels. The named “TOP OCEAN” is an important starting point for Dingsheng Shipping to expand from traditional dry bulk cargo transportation to the high-value-added liquid cargo transportation sector. It is also a pioneering project for Zhonghang Shipbuilding to undertake the construction of the new MR vessel type for the first time, marking that both parties have jointly entered a brand-new stage in strategic transformation and capability upgrading. This vessel type adopts advanced environmental protection design and energy-saving technologies, and has reached the advanced level of similar vessels in terms of principal dimension optimization, cargo carrying capacity, speed efficiency and fuel economy.
Weihai Wuhu Shipyard Commences Construction of the First 40,800 DWT MR Oil/Chemical Tanker
A groundbreaking ceremony for the first 40,800 DWT IMO II product oil/chemical tanker built by Wuhu Shipyard for a Turkish shipowner was recently held successfully at Weihai Wuhu Shipyard.
As the first-of-class 40,800 DWT MR oil/chemical tanker, this vessel features unique technical characteristics. It is equipped with a discharge pipe at the stern, which can meet the demand for efficient cargo handling under various berthing methods. This not only significantly improves the loading efficiency of the vessel, but also greatly enhances its ability to adapt to the characteristics of different cargoes. In particular, it is compatible with the operation characteristics of some European ports, achieving convenience and flexibility in the loading process.
CIMC Industrial Qingdao Shipyard’s First 6,400 DWT Refrigerated Carrier Completes Sea Trial Triumphant Return
Recently, the first 6,400 DWT refrigerated carrier under construction at CIMC Industrial Qingdao Shipyard successfully completed its sea trial mission and returned to the port smoothly. Test verification shows that the core indicators of the main power system and electrical system of the first vessel meet the design requirements, and the key performances such as navigation stability, maneuverability and energy-saving performance have all reached the standards, winning high praise from the shipowner and classification society.
Prior to the sea trial milestone, the project team of CIMC Industrial Qingdao Shipyard scientifically formulated the acceptance plan for each specialty based on the test outline, and completed key equipment function tests in advance, including blackout and dead ship simulation test, ballast water sampling and testing, and water maker function commissioning, saving 8 hours of golden time for the subsequent sea trial of the vessel. During the sea trial, the project team maintained efficient collaboration with the shipowner, classification society and service providers, communicated the progress of various test items in real time, and quickly clarified solutions to various test problems, providing a solid guarantee for the orderly progress of the sea trial mission. At present, the project team is efficiently promoting the closed-loop handling of sea trial comments, and conducting in-depth review of the sea trial process simultaneously, refining key experiences such as technical optimization and process connection, laying a solid foundation for the smooth progress of the sea trial of the No. 2 vessel and the high-quality delivery of the overall project.
