The world's first 22,000 DWT Hybrid CT was Successfully Launched

On January 22, 2021, the launching ceremony of the world's first 22,000 DWT hybrid chemical tanker built by Wuhu Shipyard Co., Ltd. for Sweden's Donso Shipping AB was successfully carried out. Site representatives of Donso Shipping AB, Clarkson Plato Ship Broker, DNV GL, FKAB Design, China Export-Import Bank, China Development Bank and other guests attended the launching ceremony. The ship owner's management team witnessed the launching via live streaming from their offices in Sweden.

At 9:55am, the ceremony was started by the Oriental Lion Dance with unique Chinese style. Mr. Zhong Yan, the authorized representative of the shipower and the general manager of Shanghai Great Sea Maritime Company, made the finishing touch to the Lion Dance. At 9:58 am, Mr. Liu Yicheng, the second-level inspector of Anhui Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology, Mr. Zhong Yan, and Mr. Shi Yonglin from DNV GL classification, jointly cut the ribbon for the launching. Accompanied by the colorful balloons and gunfire from the bow, the world's first 22,000-ton hybrid chemical ship was successfully launched.

At the launching ceremony, Mr. Zhou Biren, Chairman of Wuhu Shipyard Co., Ltd., gave a welcome speech. Zhou said the successful launching of the 22,000 DWT hybrid chemical tanker was of great significance to Wuhu Shipyard. The tanker is the world's first hybrid chemicals ship and its hybrid propulsion system is configured with efficient four-stroke dual fuel engine, Variable frequency of shaft generator and DC batteries auxiliary electric propulsion system, meet the latest IMO Tier Ⅲ standards. In addition, the tanker is also equipped with a waste heat recovery system, using the waste heat of the boiler to generate electricity, to ensure the daily life of the crew during the voyage, achieved sufficient energy saving. This ship is the landmark work for Wuhu Shipyard to enter the global high-end liquid cargo ship market and the Nordic shipowner market, its construction will fill the dual-fuel ship and ice-zone reinforced class ship construction blank in Anhui Province.

Mr. Ingvar Lorensson, General Manager of Shipowner Company, invited his authorized representative Mr. Zhongyan to read out his speech. Mr. Lorensson mentioned that in the summer of 2018, he visited the shipyard for the first time with Clarkson and Shanghai Great Sea Maritime. His anxiety before entering the shipyard gradually vanished as the visit began, from "the visit may not be meaningful" to "Wuhu shipyard may be a new partner". Today's launching of the ship confirmed his judgment at that time was so right. Mr. Lorensson said that the ship was originally designed with human and environmental concerns, and then with a more comfortable home for the crew as well as a more environmentally friendly way of operating the ship as a priority, to create and develop the plug-in hybrid ship, which will be the most environmentally friendly chemical ship in the world. Over the past year, the global Covid-19 epidemic prevented them from having face-to-face technical conversations. Instead, the two sides creatively used video conferencing and share 3D models to discuss, even though they were in their offices in Sweden and knew the layout of the entire ship. Lorensson expressed his sincere appreciation for the hard work of the shipyard staff, the on-site team and the surveyors of the classification society day and night. He said thanks to the good cooperation from all parties, he believed that the future work of the ship would be as smooth as ever.

Mr. Shi Yonglin, DNV GL representative, highly appreciated the unity of all parties to overcome difficulties under the current special environment, and highly affirmed the construction quality of the shipyard.

In 2020, the shipbuilding has been affected by Covid-19 and Yangtze River flood for 4 months in our shipyard. In the face of the difficulties, the shipyard did not wait, but actively and scientifically fought for progress. At the end of February, the shipyard took the lead in carrying out two shift 24-hour operation, and for the first time, the gantry welding robot was adopted in block assembly to strive for the construction progress of the tanker. While ensuring the production efficiency of the project, in view of the characteristics of the tanker, such as high technology, strict construction quality requirements and great construction difficulty, the shipyard fully identified the key construction technology and organized the technical, production, quality and other professionals to tackle key scientific and technological problems, comprehensively overcame 11 key technologies including the glass flake winter low-temperature operation construction, ballast PSPC protection, Wartsila propulsion system installation and LNG system installation, twist rudder installation, DC bus system commissioning, and ice class strengthening construction, compiled one industry technical standard, and applied for 25 invention patents, which achieving double harvest both on construction and scientific and technological progress.

Since ship owners regard the ship as crew's home and shipyards construct crew's home, the design concept of "home" has sprouted before project design. The shipyard took the initiative to visit and investigate the ships being operated by the shipowner's company, and incorporated the needs of the crew and the experience of real ship construction into the production design in advance. In order to make the cabin comfortable and create a comfortable, convenient and beautiful compartment environment, Wuhu shipyard, combined with its unique noise control technology, strives to be the first-class in decoration design, technology and materials, so as to increase the living space for crew and create a quiet and harmonious living environment. After the completion of the project, the ship interior decoration project will become the benchmark of Wuhu shipyard new shipbuilding project, highlighting the shipyard people-oriented, customer-centric shipbuilding concept.

In the past four years, Wuhu Shipyard has been actively promoting the transformation and upgrading, carefully laying out the core products, deeply involved in the liquid cargo ship market. In 2021, with the successful construction of the tanker as a new starting point, Wuhu Shipyard has made a good start in the new year, and successively signed 21500 DWT LNG dual fuel bitumen vessel, 80m LNG pure gas propulsion system self-unloading ship, 6,600 DWT and 9,000 DWT series duplex stainless steel chemical tankers. To create a "Wuhu Shipyard Manufacturing" brand in the global chemical tanker market, it is a full affirmation to our shipyard from the market. The shipyard will exhibit the century-long spirit of craftsmanship farther, and will deliver more “delicate vessel” with first class construction and quality standard to shipowners and make new achievements to the high-quality development of China's shipbuilding industry!