On December 2nd, CSSC Beihai Shipbuilding, together with China Shipbuilding Trading Co., Ltd. (CSTC) and Winning International Group, held a signing ceremony in Shanghai to build six 325,000 DWT WINNINGMAX very large ore carriers (VLOC). Sun Siyuan, Executive Vice President of Winning International Group, Zheng Minsheng, Deputy General Manager of the Asia-Pacific Department of CSTC, and Zhang Quan, Deputy General Manager of Beihai Shipbuilding, signed the construction contract on behalf of the three parties.
This signing marks another collaboration between the two parties in the field of VLOCs, reflecting not only their deep mutual trust and support but also fully demonstrating the shipowner’s high recognition of Beihai Shipbuilding’s technical capabilities and vessel quality. In September 2023, Winning International Group placed its first order with Beihai Shipbuilding for a 325,000 DWT WINNINGMAX-type VLOCs. With the six newly contracted vessels, the total number of vessels under their cooperative agreement has increased to eight.
To date, Winning International Group has 16 Winning Max-class VLOCs under construction, with Beihai Shipbuilding and Hengli Heavy Industries each building 8.
The six WinningMAX vessels signed this time were pioneered by Winning International Group. Based on its green and environmentally friendly development business policy, and taking into account the characteristics of the seaborne trade and logistics chain of iron ore and bauxite from West Africa to China, the vessels were innovatively designed by China Ship Design & Research Center Co., Ltd, (CSDC), and customized and built with the support of multiple partners. The vessels have also obtained technical approval from China Classification Society and Det Norske Veritas.
The successful development of the WinningMAX ship type not only stems from Winning International Group’s green and environmentally friendly development philosophy, but also represents an important step for China towards low-carbon and sustainable development in the field of ship design and construction.
The vessel is 329.99 meters long, 60 meters wide, and has a speed of 13.9 knots. All its specifications meet the Phase III requirements of the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI). Compared to traditional Capesize vessels, the WinningMAX reduces energy consumption per tonne-mile by nearly 50%. Furthermore, the vessel is pre-configured for methanol fuel and is equipped with a 12,000-cubic-meter methanol fuel storage tank, enabling future “zero-carbon” operation throughout its voyage using green methanol.
Winning International Group is a diversified conglomerate headquartered in Singapore, encompassing shipownership, shipping operations, maritime transshipment, vessel management, mining development, and railway construction and operation. The group boasts an industry-leading fleet of bulk carriers and is currently the world’s largest bauxite seafarer, as well as a significant provider of shipping capacity for Simandou iron ore. The group will continue to expand and upgrade its fleet, aiming to build a series of ultra-large ore carriers serving the West Africa-China route, providing more convenient, efficient, and environmentally friendly solutions for global mineral transportation.
Beihai Shipbuilding has focused on its core ship types, focusing on undertaking serialized and mass-produced orders for VLOCs. The business and fleet needs of Winning International Group align perfectly with Beihai Shipbuilding’s ship type positioning. This renewed collaboration not only lays the foundation for deepening their strategic cooperation on sustainable development and further expanding their presence in the Guinean bauxite and iron ore transportation market, but will also further solidify Beihai Shipbuilding’s leading position in the global market for VLOCs.