On October 16, Shanghai Zhenhua Marine Engineering Services – a subsidiary of ZPMC (Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery) – officially started construction of the first 50,000 DWT heavy lift deck carrier at ZPMC Qidong Marine Engineering.
The vessel has an overall length of 217 meters, a beam of 43 meters, a depth of 13.5 meters, and a design draft of 8.8 meters. It is capable of a maximum speed of no less than 14 knots, is classed by the China Classification Society and flies the Chinese flag.
The vessel features a continuous open main deck, double bottom, and single-hull side tank structure with a forward-mounted wheelhouse. This design accommodates the ro-ro loading and unloading of large bridge cranes and modules from both sides or the stern.
In terms of environmental sustainability, the vessel incorporates methanol-ready design, enabling future conversion to methanol dual-fuel propulsion. It is equipped with shaft generators and energy-saving devices, with its hull form optimized through tank testing to achieve outstanding energy efficiency.
Furthermore, the vessel integrates an intelligent ship management system for smart oversight of energy efficiency, engine room operations, and navigation. Its ballast system enables cross-transfer between port and starboard sides as well as fore and aft sections based on cargo characteristics, significantly enhancing loading/unloading efficiency and safety.
As the first methanol-ready deck carrier independently developed and constructed by Shanghai Zhenhua Marine Engineering Services, this vessel further diversifies the company’s fleet structure, effectively alleviates transport capacity constraints, and enhances market competitiveness.