Recently, Wuhu Shipyard’s independently developed 18,600-ton chemical tanker received Approval in Principle (AIP) certificates from DNV and ABS, marking the fourth independently developed ship type certified by the shipyard.
Facing increasingly stringent environmental regulations, rapidly changing market demands, and an unwavering pursuit of safety, Wuhu Shipyard, through independent R&D and collaboration with Japan’s iFTC, meticulously optimized the hull lines of the 18,600-ton chemical tanker to achieve the best possible solution. The design employs CFD iterative optimization for the hull form, paired with an efficient propeller and the advanced energy-saving device eco-stator, meeting IMO EEDI Phase 3 requirements with additional margin. The total longitudinal bending moment is reduced, and the lightweight displacement is decreased by approximately 80 tons. Compared to international counterparts, this ship type reduces power consumption by 7%-8% at the same speed, offering superior fuel efficiency and strong market competitiveness. Additionally, the technical team will systematically optimize the configuration of major electromechanical equipment, significantly lowering construction costs through innovative piping design and the application of a high-flow cargo pump system.
The 18,600-ton chemical tanker is a completely new ship type independently developed by Wuhu Shipyard, signifying its successful strategic transformation from a traditional construction contractor to a “design-build contractor” with independent design and construction capabilities. Currently, it has attracted the attention of numerous chemical tanker owners worldwide. This certification not only validates the company’s design capabilities but also marks a significant step in Wuhu Shipyard’s shift toward independent R&D and decarbonization. Presently, Wuhu Shipyard is accelerating its independent R&D and design efforts, focusing on creating strategically competitive benchmark products to continuously enhance its core brand competitiveness through innovation.
In recent years, Wuhu Shipyard has actively pursued an outward expansion strategy, establishing a “1+2+N” development framework. With Wuhu as its core, the shipyard has outlined a blueprint for multiple surrounding bases and diversified R&D initiatives. Among these, Sanshui New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. specializes in new energy vessels, while Anhui Haizhi Equipment Research Institute and Shanghai Haizhi Zhiyuan Technology Co., Ltd. focus on high-end ship development. Additionally, the shipyard has upgraded its core facilities by adding two slipways and two stainless steel workshops, driving digital transformation and intelligent leadership to build a smart factory.
Wuhu Shipyard remains steadfast in upholding its core brand philosophy of “green, intelligent, and sustainable development.” It continues to advance technological innovation, promote industrial digitalization and intelligence, cultivate new productive forces, optimize industrial layouts, diversify product structures, and enhance the quality of core products—all to provide customers with superior, more environmentally friendly products and services.
