Recently, the 399.9-meter-long ultra-large container ship “Rotterdam” safely, efficiently, and successfully completed all repair work at COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (Dalian) and set sail. This marks the first successful repair of the world’s largest 24,000 TEU-class container ship in northern China, signifying that COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (Dalian) has reached a new level in the field of ultra-large high-end ship repair.
Faced with the complex repair requirements of the “Rotterdam,” COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (Dalian) boldly applied several industry-first technologies to successfully overcome the challenges. During the hatch cover repair phase, the company innovatively employed the “hatch cover in-situ hoisting and cushion pier” technique, providing a stable support for the repair of 91 massive hatch covers and hatch coamings. For critical systems like the seawater filter, the company also applied the advanced FC Coating anti-corrosion process for the first time, significantly shortening the in-dock anti-corrosion construction period and accumulating valuable experience for subsequent maintenance of similar vessels.
The maintenance of core equipment also featured numerous highlights, including the precision disassembly and inspection of thrusters, the safe disassembly and assembly of propellers using axle vehicle technology, the replacement of white steel sleeves and stern shaft seals, and the fabrication of stern shaft shields from 316 stainless steel with excellent corrosion resistance to ensure the “heart” of the vessel remains healthy. In addition, a comprehensive derusting, sandblasting, and high-grade painting project was carried out across the entire ship, covering hatch covers, lashing bridges, hatch coamings, inner bottom of cargo hold, living quarters, chimneys, and nearly 50,000 square meters of external steel plates, providing the giant ship with a solid “new armor”.
Undertaking the Rotterdam repairs is a result of COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (Dalian)’s forward-thinking strategic planning. Its core asset, the Dalian floating dock, completed a critical lengthening renovation in the first half of 2025, extending its length from 340 meters to 410 meters.
During the maintenance period, COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (Dalian) worked closely with the Dalian Maritime Safety Administration and Dalian Port Customs to safely and smoothly complete the vessel’s berthing, docking/undocking, and equipment customs clearance. This fully demonstrated the renovated floating dock’s perfect adaptability to the current market’s mainstream 24,000TEU ultra-large container ships and other large vessels. This important infrastructure upgrade has laid a solid foundation for COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (Dalian) to continue to expand into the high-end ship repair market and accept new orders, and also indicates a bright future for its future performance.