On May 23rd, Chengxi Shipyard, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited (CSSC), successfully delivered the world’s largest gravity self-unloader “GCL Mahanadi”.
In December 2021, the shipowner of the “GCL Mahanadi” released the ship repair and conversion information to the world. After fierce competition, Chengxi Shipyard successfully won the conversion contract. According to the conversion content, a 105,000 DWT bulk carrier with 7 cargo holds is required to be converted into a 100,000 DWT self-unloader.
“GCL Mahanadi” has both in-cabin gravity and deck transport self-unloading functions, and after conversion, it has become the largest gravity self-unloader in the world in terms of deadweight tonnage. The vessel will be mainly used to load cargo in the ports of Libya in Africa (mainly transporting iron ore, coal, etc.), and then transfer them to other vessels in nearby waters. It is particularly suitable for regions and countries with shallow waters or imperfect port facilities, where large vessels cannot berth or use port machinery for loading and unloading cargoes.
The maximum unloading rate of the vessel’s self-unloading equipment can reach 7,000 tons/hour, reducing the unloading time from 3 days to less than 15 hours. Two sets of unloading arms are installed on the main deck, both of which are retractable, which greatly expands the vessel’s unloading adaptability and almost no need to move the vessel when unloading cargoes from the barge.
The vessel is very green and environmentally friendly, the whole operation process is carried out in a closed state, there is no dust escaping to the outside world, the requirements for the wharf and shore are very low, and there is no need to have any shore cranes to serve it.
Chengxi Shipyard said that the conversion of “GCL Mahanadi” mainly includes a gravity self-unloading system. Conversion of living quarters; replacement of three generators (each with a power of 2055 kilowatts) and main switchboard; adding a bow thruster and two reverse osmosis water generators; the weight of the steel engineering Conversion involved exceeds 5,500 tons; and more than 120 kilometers of new cables are laid.