On January 21, Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group Co., Ltd. (WS), a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), successfully delivered the fourth vessel in its series of 18,500 DWT product/chemical tankers, which was custom-built for Greece’s Athenian Sea Carriers. As one of ten vessels in the same series being built in batches by Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry, the successful delivery of Vessel No. 4 marks the successful completion of the first batch of contract construction tasks for this project. Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry has thus entered a critical phase of efficient contract fulfillment for this batch of vessels.
This vessel boasts exceptional performance and superior specifications, with an overall length of 149.8 meters, a beam of 22.8 meters, a depth of 12.7 meters, and a design draft of 8.5 meters. It possesses an operational range of 10,000 nautical miles, a cruising speed of 13 knots, and is classed by Lloyd’s Register (LR). The vessel is certified for unlimited navigation zones and is capable of transporting IMO Class II and Class III chemicals and refined petroleum products.
In the field of green and intelligent shipping, this vessel features a methanol/LNG dual-fuel ready design, equipped with a 6.6KV high-voltage shore power system and an unmanned engine room configuration. It not only meets the latest IMO III emission requirements and EEDI Phase 3 energy efficiency standards, but also achieves core advantages of lower fuel consumption and greater cargo capacity through technological innovations such as CFD hull optimization and the application of high-efficiency propellers. Its carbon footprint is significantly lower than that of mainstream vessel types on the market.
Athenian Sea Carriers, a long-established shipping enterprise operated by Greece’s Kyriakou family, has progressively focused on the chemical tanker sector since its strategic transformation in 2021. The ongoing delivery of this 10-vessel series order represents a core initiative to deepen cooperation with China and expand its green fleet. Following delivery, the vessels were immediately deployed into service, where their stable operational performance and high efficiency have laid a solid foundation for further strengthening the partnership between both parties.
With the successful delivery of Vessel No. 4, Vessel No. 5 from the same series is currently undergoing mooring trials, while Vessel No. 6 is approaching its launch milestone. Subsequent vessels are progressing steadily according to the strictly paced construction schedule.
In the future, Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry will continue to consolidate its competitive edge in the mass production of small and medium-sized chemical tankers. By leveraging green and intelligent technological innovation, the company will further enhance its core competitiveness in the international high-end shipbuilding market and empower the global shipping industry’s low-carbon transformation.