On October 10, the second 14,000 DWT stainless steel chemical tanker (AA069M) built by China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Wuchang Shipbuilding for Singapore’s Pioneer Shipping was successfully started. This marks a further deepening of the cooperation between the two parties in high-end shipbuilding and signifies Wuchang Shipbuilding’s continued strengthening of its layout in the stainless steel chemical tanker market segment.
Since the project’s initiation, Wuchang Shipbuilding has continuously deepened the “Four-in-One” collaborative mechanism, efficiently coordinating with multiple departments including the design institute, production management department, business department, and material supply department. They completed the ordering of key Class A and B equipment ahead of schedule, ensuring seamless connection of the production chain. The technical team fully leveraged the construction experience from the first vessel and similar ship types, continuously optimizing the drawing review and production design processes. This was achieved by optimizing block division, implementing lane-based nesting operations, promoting the “reverse grand block assembly” of stainless steel decks and corrugated bulkheads, conducting integrated layout design for the walkway, and implementing unit-based hoisting for outfitting modules. Installation drawings for outfitting components across various disciplines were optimized down to the block, grand block, and zonal levels, while the integrated design and overall pre-hoisting scheme for the superstructure were continuously refined. These continuous improvements in the production technical preparation for this series of vessels have laid a solid foundation for enhancing subsequent construction efficiency and quality.
As another key strategic move for Wuchang Shipbuilding to deepen its presence in the chemical tanker market, the advancement of this series holds significant importance. In recent years, Wuchang Shipbuilding has closely followed the trends of green, low-carbon, and smart shipping, having successively built in batches specialized coated /chemical tankers and stainless steel chemical tankers of various deadweight tonnages such as 7200DWT, 9200DWT, 14620DWT, 18500DWT, and 25900DWT for domestic and international clients. This has allowed them to accumulate rich experience and secure an important market position in this segment. The commencement of the second vessel not only represents a rapid replication and upgrade of the achievements from the first vessel’s construction but will also further enhance Wuchang Shipbuilding’s production capacity scale and technical maturity in the field of stainless steel chemical tankers, consolidate its market share in the high-end shipbuilding sector, and strengthen the influence of the “Wuchang Shipbuilding” brand in the global chemical transportation equipment industry.
“Focusing on quality as the core, aiming for delivery as the goal” – relevant project team leaders stated that the next step involves strictly controlling each process node, fully ensuring the high-quality construction of the second vessel according to plan, helping Singapore’s Pioneer Shipping seize market opportunities, and injecting new momentum into the high-quality development of the international shipping supply chain. In the future, Wuchang Shipbuilding will continue to focus on customer needs and industry trends, driven by technological innovation, to provide global clients with higher-quality high-end ship equipment and services.
This vessel continues the high-standard positioning of the first ship. Designed by the 708 Research Institute of CSSC, it has a total length of 129 meters, a beam of 22 meters, a depth of 11.5 meters, a design draft of 8.5 meters, and a speed of 12.8 knots, capable of operating in unlimited navigation areas. The ship adopts a single-propeller, single-diesel engine propulsion system, configured with 6 pairs of cargo oil tanks, 2 slop tanks, 6 pairs of ballast water tanks, and 2 technical fresh water tanks. It innovatively applies a “one pump and one system per cargo tank” design for the cargo oil tanks, paired with 12 independent cargo oil pipelines. This ensures the safety and compatibility of chemical transportation while fully meeting the international shipping market’s demand for efficient and environmentally friendly equipment. The vessel is classed by ABS and demonstrates excellent performance in power and environmental protection, strictly adhering to international regulations, and will provide more reliable solutions for global chemical transportation.
Entering the fourth quarter, all ongoing projects at Wuchang Shipbuilding are anchoring their targets and making a full sprint, achieving breakthroughs at key production and construction milestones.
Recently, the 10,000 kW rescue and standby ship built by Wuchang Shipbuilding efficiently and with high quality completed the shafting jacking inspection. The critical load calculation data for the shafting jack-up test received approval from the Finnish manufacturer Wärtsilä. The construction team adhered to the principle of “Precision Engineering, Precision Workmanship, Quality Products,” strictly controlled quality during the construction process, and through repeated exploration and fine adjustments, ultimately achieved jacking load data far superior to the process requirements after completing the shaft pre-jacking, gearbox grouting, and intermediate bearing installation. This practically fulfills the mission of “building sophisticated equipment.”
Recently, the main engine mooring trial inspection for the Xingtong 25900DWT stainless steel chemical tanker (Hull No. 2), constructed by Wuchang Shipbuilding, was successfully completed. For the large two-stroke main engine equipped on this vessel, the construction team planned the system flushing scheme in advance, continuously optimized the circulation loops to ensure oil samples met the required indicators, strictly implemented the “Three-Check System,” raised the internal cleaning standards for the main engine, and meticulously controlled the debugging and calibration of alarm points. This has laid a solid foundation for building a high-performance, reliable, and quality vessel.
Currently, the pipe fabrication for the Junzheng 25900DWT stainless steel chemical tanker is progressing smoothly. For Hull No. 5, out of a total of 14,645 pipes, over 14,400 have been fabricated, inspected, and delivered, achieving a production completion rate of over 98%, strongly supporting the launching milestone. Subsequent fabrication will proceed orderly according to the launching schedule. Meanwhile, the pipe fabrication work for Hull No. 6 and Hull No. 7 of this series is also progressing smoothly according to the nodal plan, demonstrating the fluency and efficiency of project management.
