Recently, Wuhu Shipyard has obtained the Approval in Principle (AIP) certificate issued by DNV (Det Norske Veritas) and ABS (American Bureau of Shipping) for its independently developed 18,600 DWT chemical tanker. This vessel is the fourth type of Wuhu Shipyard’s independently developed ship type to be certified.
Faced with increasingly stringent environmental regulations, ever-changing market demands and the pursuit of impeccable safety, Wuhu Shipyard, based on independent research and development, worked with Japan’s iFTC to refine the hull lines of the 18,600-ton chemical tanker and seek the optimal solution.
The vessel uses CFD to iteratively optimize the hull lines, is equipped with high-efficiency propellers and advanced energy-saving devices eco-stator, and meets the IMO EEDI Phase 3 requirements with a margin. The total longitudinal bending moment is reduced, and the empty vessel weight is reduced by about 80 tons.
Compared with similar international products, the power consumption of this vessel is significantly reduced by 7%-8% under the same speed conditions, with outstanding fuel economy advantages and strong market competitiveness. At the same time, the system configuration of the main electromechanical equipment of the whole vessel is optimized, and the construction cost is greatly reduced through the innovative pipeline design and the application of high-efficiency and large-flow cargo pump system.
It is understood that the 18,600 DWT chemical tanker is a brand-new vessel type independently developed by Wuhu Shipyard, marking its successful strategic transformation from a traditional construction general contractor to a “design and construction general contractor” with independent design and construction capabilities. At present, it has attracted the attention of many chemical tanker owners at home and abroad.
This certification not only tests the design capabilities of Wuhu Shipyard, but also witnesses an important step taken by Wuhu Shipyard towards independent research and development and decarbonization. At present, Wuhu Shipyard is accelerating its independent research and development and design work, focusing on creating strategic benchmark products with market competitiveness, and continuously improving its core brand competitiveness through innovation-driven development.