As the container shipping market continues to boom, container shipowners are expanding their fleet capacity through various means, one of which is converting bulk carriers into container ships.
Recently, the conversion of the 80,000 DWT Kamsarmax bulk carrier GUANG QI DE ER TA was successfully completed at Zhoushan Xinya Shipyard, and the vessel has now been transformed into a 3,600 TEU container ship. This marks the world’s first major conversion project of its kind—transforming a bulk carrier into a container ship—and is currently the largest such project globally.
Data shows that the “GUANG QI DE ER TA” has an overall length of 229 meters, a beam of 32.26 meters, and a depth of 20.25 meters. It was built and delivered by a Chinese shipyard in 2012 and was equipped with seven large dry bulk cargo holds prior to the conversion. In November 2025, the vessel entered Zhoushan Xinya Shipyard; in January 2026, the conversion project officially began; and in June 2026, after approximately five months, the conversion was completed, transforming the vessel into a 3,607-TEU container ship.
It is reported that the conversion of this bulk carrier involved more than just adjustments to the deck area; rather, it entailed a comprehensive redesign of its cargo-handling capabilities. According to the China Classification Society, the project covered multiple core and challenging construction tasks, including extensive structural modifications to the hull, a complete reconfiguration of the cargo hold layout, the design and installation of a new container lashing system, and the optimization and adaptation of the ship’s auxiliary systems.
Specifically, the bulk carrier’s original seven large dry bulk cargo holds were converted into 13 container holds, and the deck structure was modified accordingly to meet the requirements for container stowage and the installation and use of lashing equipment; the living quarters in the ship’s superstructure were raised as a whole to meet various operational requirements, including container loading height, navigational visibility, and navigation regulations.
During the ship’s conversion period, the China Classification Society maintained strict oversight throughout the entire process, closely monitoring key stages such as design review, raw material inspection, on-site construction techniques, welding quality, and mooring and sea trials. The organization successfully overcame numerous industry-wide technical challenges, including the conversion of large hull sections, high-precision structural alignment, and the coordinated integration of multiple systems, while identifying and implementing the newly effective requirements that the “GUANG QI DE ER TA” must meet as a result of its major refit.
In addition to the already completed “GUANG QI DE ER TA,” shipping consultancy Alphaliner reports that at least two more ultra-handymax bulk carriers are currently scheduled to be converted into 2,500 TEU-class container ships. The vessels slated for conversion are primarily Diamond 53-class open-top ultra-handymax bulk carriers built by CSSC Chengxi Shipyard between 2005 and 2011.
