On June 26, the gate of Dry Dock No. 4 at New Times Shipbuilding was opened, and two 8,400-TEU dual-fuel container ships (Hull Nos. 8121 and 8122) built by the yard were successfully launched. These two vessels were the first to exit this dock and represent the first vessels of this series.
New Times Shipbuilding states that this vessel type has an overall length of 260 meters, a beam of 45.6 meters, a depth of 24.7 meters, a design draft of 12.5 meters, and a structural draft of 15.8 meters. At the design draft, with the main engine operating at NCR and a 15% sea margin, the vessel achieves a service speed of 20 knots. It offers a cruising range of approximately 20,000 nautical miles in gas mode and about 15,000 nautical miles in fuel oil mode (at design draft), fully meeting the round-trip endurance requirements for various routes and demonstrating excellent route adaptability.
This series of 8,400-TEU dual-fuel container ships features large B-Type LNG fuel tanks and boasts outstanding advantages, such as high cargo-loading efficiency and excellent energy performance. Upon delivery, the vessels will operate on long-haul European routes, helping shipping clients optimize their Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) ratings and driving the green transformation of the international shipping industry.
In July 2024, New Times Shipbuilding announced a 5 billion yuan investment in the first phase of a project for the intelligent manufacturing of new-energy vessels. The project scope includes the construction of facilities such as intelligent manufacturing workshops; the renovation of existing painting shops and intelligent production lines; the addition of new workshops and other shipbuilding facilities; the procurement of intelligent equipment, including intelligent processing systems and large gantry cranes; and the construction of a new dry dock and an inland river wharf. The dry dock included in this project will be the company’s fourth.
This launch milestone signifies that New Times Shipbuilding’s No. 4 dry dock has entered service; the shipyard’s other three dry docks have capacities of 500,000, 300,000, and 100,000 deadweight tonnes (DWT), respectively. The No. 4 dry dock measures 700 meters in length and is capable of accommodating the side-by-side construction of two Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), as well as the side-by-side assembly of two VLCC hull sections; a series of new vessels is currently under construction there according to schedule.
Currently, New Times Shipbuilding’s construction of dual-fuel vessels fully encompasses key ship types—including bulk carriers, oil tankers, and container ships—with an increasingly well-rounded product portfolio, a robust orderbook, and production schedules fully booked through 2029.
Regarding new shipbuilding, New Times Shipbuilding has primarily secured orders for container ships and oil tankers. To date this year, the shipyard has commenced construction on 23 vessels, laid keel for 18 vessels, launched 16 vessels, and delivered 13 vessels.