Naming Ceremony for the 18,500-ton Chemical Tanker W2312 Successfully Held

On the morning of January 7, the grand naming ceremony for the 18,500-ton chemical tanker W2312, custom-built by Wuhu Shipyard for the British shipowner Union Maritime Limited, was successfully held. Representatives from the shipowner Union Maritime Limited and its partners, along with relevant leaders from the shipyard, attended the ceremony to witness this important moment.

In high recognition of the collaboration, Union Maritime Limited specially invited Sheila from Wuhu Shipyard to serve as the godmother of the vessel and named it "SHAMAL." The name originates from the strong northwestern wind of the Persian Gulf, symbolizing the power of steadiness, strength, and fearless long voyages.

Mr. Michael Kotsapas, Chief Financial Officer of Union Maritime Limited, highly acknowledged Wuhu Shipyard's position as a core strategic partner. In his speech, he stated that the successful naming of the W2312 vessel would further strengthen the foundation of cooperation between the two parties in the shipbuilding field, and he looked forward to jointly exploring more green shipping solutions in the future.

Mr. Ma Jinxiang, Manager of Jiangsu and Anhui Regions at Bureau Veritas (BV), expressed that the "SHAMAL" carries expectations and responsibilities, symbolizing the spirit of exploration, progress, cooperation, and mutual benefit. The naming of this vessel and its imminent voyages will lay a solid foundation for career development in 2026 and beyond.

The newly named "SHAMAL" is one of the 18 vessels ordered by Union Maritime Limited at Wuhu Shipyard. This substantial volume of cooperation is the best testament to the achievements of their past collaboration and further demonstrates the shipowner's full trust and firm confidence in Wuhu Shipyard as a core strategic partner. It is reported that the "Oroshi," one of the 10 sister ships in the same series as the "SHAMAL," is currently undergoing sea trials.

The 18,500-ton chemical tanker series project is a significant achievement of the deepened cooperation between the two parties. This vessel type integrates technological innovation and environmental concepts, featuring a methanol dual-fuel ready design, an advanced single-screw propulsion system, 1C ice-class strengthening, and is innovatively equipped with two Norsepower rotor sails. This fully showcases Wuhu Shipyard's profound technical expertise in the field of green and intelligent shipbuilding.

Following the naming ceremony, guests boarded the "SHAMAL" for a tour and visited the intelligent workshop, witnessing firsthand Wuhu Shipyard's modern construction capabilities. At noon, representatives from both sides jointly planted a "Tree of Friendship" symbolizing enduring cooperation, embodying their shared vision of deepening roots and jointly promoting the development of green shipping.

At the beginning of the new year, the company's production and operations have achieved a "strong start," securing a favorable beginning for the year's development. Currently, three other vessels are in the final stages of sea trials, including two chemical tankers from the same series and one fracturing vessel. All project milestones are steadily advancing, with full efforts being made to ensure on-time, high-quality deliveries. All Wuhu Shipyard personnel are riding this momentum with heightened morale and a diligent work ethic, focusing on overcoming challenges, striving for excellence, and going all out to accomplish the annual goals and tasks. They are dedicated to achieving practical results and continuing to write a new chapter in the company's high-quality development!

Contributed by: Zhu Yue, Marketing Center; Chen Zidan, Party-Mass Work Department

Edited by: Shui Qing