On the morning of October 29, 2025, Wuhu Shipyard held the launching ceremony for the Hull No. 3 of the 18,500-ton chemical tanker project built for the UK shipowner UNION MARITIME LIMITED.
Core areas of this vessel reached delivery-ready status at the time of launching, significantly exceeding the planned schedule. Through meticulous management and efficient collaboration, areas such as the superstructure rooms, ballast tank zones, and parts of the engine room were nearly completed at launch. The hull tanks achieved pre-blasting, and the launching score and completeness set a new record high for the company’s similar products, establishing a benchmark for launching completeness for vessels of this type within the company. This has laid a solid foundation for the project’s final delivery, marking a new height in the construction level of the 18,500-ton chemical tanker series.
The outfitting team deeply implemented the core measure of “Takt Production”, carried out the company’s special improvement plan, and continuously optimized the process flow. They boldly adopted large block outfitting techniques and computer simulation outfitting technology, broke down data barriers in precision control, meticulously simulated the construction and outfitting process of large blocks on computers, pre-trimmed allowances, improved the rapid outfitting and precise positioning of blocks, completed a large amount of structural welding and outfitting work on the block assembly platform in advance, actively promoted parallel construction of various blocks and orderly alternating construction by different trades, established a stable construction rhythm, maximized outfitting completeness, reduced later-stage dock workload, and significantly shortened the dock construction period. The use of standardized, serialized outfitting hanging baskets and special coating suspension bracket systems reduced scaffolding work. The integration and optimization of the piping systems around the main engine enhanced the unit assembly rate and overall system integrity. The team actively promoted the production philosophy of “Right First Time” and effectively implemented lean production management measures, driving the transformation from traditional production management to intelligent and refined management. This demonstrates the construction team’s high level of efficient collaboration throughout the entire shipbuilding process and their robust contract fulfillment capabilities.
The successful launching of the Hull No. 3 of the 18,500-ton chemical tanker is an excellent achievement resulting from Wuhu Shipyard’s deep advancement of lean management and innovation-driven strategies. The company will continue to deepen the summarization of the construction experience from the series, focus on technological innovation and process optimization, and go all out to advance the construction of subsequent vessels to ensure high-quality and efficient delivery.
On the same day, the Hull No. 2 of the 6,600-ton DC electric propulsion duplex stainless steel chemical tanker built for the Norwegian company RFOcean was launched. On the morning of the 27th, this vessel completed its naming ceremony witnessed by the shipowner, ship surveyors, and various partners. The completion of these two critical milestones within just three days fully demonstrates the construction team’s exceptional organizational coordination capabilities and their determined spirit in tackling challenges. Amid the intense atmosphere of the “100-Day Sprint”, all personnel involved, guided by clear objectives, collaborated closely and fought valiantly, ensuring seamless connection and efficient progress of production phases, achieving a veritable “acceleration”.
As a technologically advanced 6,600-ton DC electric propulsion duplex stainless steel chemical tanker, the rapid progress of Hull No. 2 signifies the increasing maturity in the construction of this series and further consolidates the builder’s leading position in the high-end, green ship market. Its successful launching has laid a solid foundation for the subsequent mooring trials and sea trials, providing strong assurance for on-time, high-quality delivery.
