Recently, at the Poseidon 2026 Greece Maritime Exhibition, three vessel types independently developed by the Shanghai Ship Research and Design Institute (SDARI) of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC)—the 320,000 DWT Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC), the 343,000 DWT Very Large Ore Carrier (VLOC), and the 114,000 DWT LR2 oil tanker—received Certificates of Approval in Principle (AiP) from the British Classification Society (LR), China Classification Society (CCS), and RINA (Italy).
Both the 320,000 DWT VLCC and the 343,000 DWT VLOC are SDARI’s flagship vessel types, developed through independent iterative upgrades. These two vessel types are closely aligned with the global shipping industry’s transition to low-carbon operations and fully support a variety of clean alternative fuels, including LNG, methanol, and ammonia, and can be equipped with intelligent ship systems. They also allow for flexible selection of auxiliary equipment—such as sulfur oxide scrubbers and shaft generators—based on shipowners’ actual operational needs.
These vessels offer the comprehensive advantages of “two lows and two highs” (low fuel consumption, low costs, high safety, and high efficiency) that are of great concern to the shipping industry, serving as a model for the green and intelligent upgrading of large ocean-going vessels. Each vessel type features its own unique design highlights and operational adaptability.
The 320,000 DWT VLCC can be retrofitted with a wind-assisted propulsion energy-saving system, making it suitable for deep-sea crude oil transport, and has received an AIP certificate from Lloyd’s Register; The 343,000 DWT VLOC is equipped with a dedicated energy-saving wind tunnel, offering excellent operational efficiency. It can not only transport conventional dry bulk cargoes such as iron ore and bauxite but also meet the special operational requirements of easily liquefiable iron ore, thereby comprehensively strengthening the technological foundation for the low-carbon development of large dry bulk carriers. It has received an AIP certificate from the China Classification Society.
The 114,000 DWT LR2 oil tanker, jointly developed by SDARI and RINA, is a hybrid-powered liquid cargo carrier equipped with high-capacity batteries, shaft generators with PTO/PTI capabilities, an intermediate shaft clutch, and an intelligent energy management system. Through flexible configuration, it achieves multiple objectives, including significant emission reductions during berthing, safe navigation in rough seas, emergency power in the event of main engine failure, and reduced overall energy consumption. The vessel has been awarded the Aip certificate by RINA.