Nansha ship building company sees order boom

The ship named CSSC Cape Town is a new-generation 120,000-ton Mini Cape bulk cargo ship independently developed by China. [Photo/gznsnews.com.cn]

The new generation of the 120,000-metric-ton Mini Cape bulk cargo ship independently developed by China was delivered to its purchaser on May 29 in the Nansha Area of the China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone.

The ship, named CSSC Cape Town, belonged to the ship leasing company of China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited (CSSC). It was manufactured by CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Co Ltd (CSSCHPS) and designed by the Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute. 

It is the first of its kind that meets the standards of both harmonised common structural rules (HCSR) and phase 2 of the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI).

The ship has applied the new generation of design concepts, which allow it to be more environmentally friendly, more energy-saving, and more intelligent, offering a better option for the global shipping industry.

The manufacturing of the ship started in March 2019, while the trial operation was finished in May 2020, breaking a new record for the shortest amount of time for building a privately owned boat.

Cargill Inc, which is the largest agricultural company based in the United States, has signed a long-term lease with the leasing company of CSSC for this batch of bulk cargo ships.

Zhong Jian, the chairman of the ship leasing company of CSSC, said that CSSCHPS has made great efforts in overcoming the difficulties in manufacturing caused by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) to make sure that the company could deliver the ships on time.

At present, CSSCHPS possesses the most orders from the ship leasing company of CSSC, with a total of 35 ships worth a contracted value of $930 million. Currently, 13 ships are still under construction.

Since CSSCHPS opened its factory on Nansha's Longxue Island 10 years ago, the company has been delivering 10 to 15 ships every year, enjoying a good reputation around the world.

Zhang Hongliu, general technologist of CSSC Cape Town, said that the company has already arranged the manufacturing date for new ships until 2022.