On the afternoon of June 26, as the dock gate of the newly built No. 4 Dock slowly opened, two 8400TEU dual-fuel powered container vessels, hull numbers 8121# and 8122#, built by New Times Shipbuilding, successively sailed out of the dock, successfully completing the launching milestone, once again setting a record for New Times Shipbuilding in the efficient batch construction of high-end green vessels.
This vessel type has a total length of 260 meters, length between perpendiculars of 255.5 meters, molded breadth of 45.6 meters, molded depth of 24.7 meters, design draft of 12.5 meters, and structural draft of 15.8 meters. Under design draft, with main engine power at NCR and a 15% sea margin, the service speed can reach 20 knots; in gas mode (Tier II) at design draft, the cruising range is approximately 20,000 nautical miles, and in fuel mode (Tier II) at design draft, the cruising range is approximately 15,000 nautical miles, fully meeting the round-trip endurance requirements of multiple routes and possessing excellent route adaptability.
Zhang Peiyan from the Production Management Department introduced that this docking period achieved four major breakthroughs: First, the cycle time for main production processes was significantly shortened. The total cycle from cargo hold forming, container testing to hatch cover lifting was reduced by 10 days, with efficiency improved by nearly 40%; the time from stern forming to shaft alignment took only 6 days, creating favorable conditions for achieving engine room integrity goals. Second, the mega-block assembly plan was optimized, with mega-blocks lifted after integrated hull outfitting painting, fully utilizing the advantages of the No. 4 dock crane, promoting three-dimensional assembly of cargo hold mega-blocks, and completing some container testing work. Third, the installation process for the Type B tank and FGSS system was optimized, achieving system integrity goals ahead of schedule. Fourth, the launching integrity was significantly improved. The vessels launched this time are the first batch from No. 4 Dock and also the first vessels of this series. Through the concerted efforts and overcoming of difficulties by the Production Management Department, project team, and various production departments, the final goals were achieved: all cargo hold container testing completed, painting of cargo holds, ballast tanks, engine room, and lashing bridge all finished, and the first coat of paint applied to decks of compartments 4 to 7.
Facing the complex challenges brought by cross-vessel type operations, the production department innovatively implemented an agile construction model of “parallel docking installation + regional mega-block assembly,” relying on 3D simulation installation technology and digital production scheduling coordination methods to optimize work processes, accelerate the pace of process advancement, ensure “zero redundancy” in docking period management, and effectively enhance overall construction efficiency. Since the vessels were placed on the berth on April 15, the construction of four dual-fuel powered container vessels, 8121#, 8122#, 8123#, and 8124#, was simultaneously carried out in No. 4 Dock. After intensive construction, vessels 21# and 22# were launched first, while vessels 23# and 24# achieved full hull afloat. Meanwhile, the adjacent No. 3 Dock was equally bustling. Just a week earlier, on June 19, two 158,000-ton dual-fuel powered oil tankers, 72# and 46#, were launched on schedule, and two sister vessels of the same type, 73# and 47#, also achieved full hull afloat in the same docking period, hitting the “fast-forward button” before launching. With the concerted efforts of the entire company, the grand production scene of “four docks linked, advancing together” has become the norm.
The 8400TEU dual-fuel powered series container vessels launched this time are equipped with large Type B LNG fuel tanks, featuring outstanding advantages such as high loading efficiency and excellent energy consumption performance. After delivery, they will be deployed on European deep-sea mainline routes, helping shipping customers optimize their Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) ratings and promoting the green transformation of international shipping. The 158,000-ton dual-fuel powered series oil tankers built concurrently are equipped with the latest generation LNG dual-fuel propulsion system, which can significantly reduce emissions of sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter, fully meeting the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Tier III emission standards, fully demonstrating the company’s leading strength in the research, development, and construction of green and low-carbon vessel types.
With batches of green vessels being launched, sea-trialled, and delivered one after another, New Times Shipbuilding’s construction of dual-fuel powered vessels has now fully covered mainstream vessel types such as bulk carriers, oil tankers, and container ships. The product structure is increasingly complete, the order book is ample, and the production schedule is fully booked until 2029. As of now, the company has started construction on 23 vessels, placed 18 vessels on berths, launched 16 vessels, and delivered 13 vessels. The timely achievement of each production milestone is not only a resounding drumbeat of New Times Shipbuilding people striving for maritime excellence but also a powerful footstep of the company’s firm pursuit of green development. A new wave of production climax is fully taking shape, injecting strong momentum into the company’s high-quality development.
