On September 1, the world’s first 325,000 DWT methanol dual-fuel ore carrier was officially named “Yuan Hai Si Lu”. Built by COSCO SHIPPING Heavy Industry, operated by COSCO SHIPPING Bulk, and equipped with the world’s first digital ship delivery system, the vessel marks a triple milestone in maritime innovation.
The completion and naming of this vessel mark significant breakthroughs for China’s shipbuilding industry in the dual fields of green propulsion and digital delivery. It offers a new “Chinese solution” for the green and intelligent transformation of the global shipping industry and provides safer, more reliable, and sustainable transport capacity to ensure the stability and smooth operation of global supply chain and logistics channels for bulk commodities.
This mega-vessel was jointly designed by COSCO SHIPPING Heavy Industry and the Shanghai Ship Research and Design Institute (SDARI); it measures 339.90 meters in length and 62.00 meters in beam, with a deadweight tonnage of 325,000 tonnes. The project achieved breakthroughs in several key technical areas, including the integration of methanol fuel supply and auxiliary systems, critical parameters for vibration numerical simulation, and the structural design and coating technology for methanol fuel tanks. Additionally, the vessel incorporates various energy-saving and drag-reducing solutions as well as modular construction techniques—innovations applied here for the first time in the industry.
Regarding smart ship capabilities, the vessel meets the CCS i-ship(N, M, E, I) standards and is equipped with an integrated display and situational awareness system. This system consolidates multi-source data from navigation, machinery, and electrical systems, enabling panoramic situational awareness, tiered safety alerts, and intelligent decision-making support; these features enhance navigational safety and have enabled the first instance of autonomous open-water navigation for a large cargo ship in China.
The cargo hold area features a specialized design that increases capacity by over 40% compared to conventional ore carriers of similar dimensions; this enables the vessel to achieve full-capacity loading not only for iron ore but also for lower-density bauxite. Drawing on years of research into the operational routes and sea conditions of very large ore carriers, the vessel incorporates a hull form designed to minimize wave-induced resistance—optimizing performance for navigation amidst the wind and waves of the mid-to-high latitude Indian Ocean—resulting in an overall performance improvement of more than 5%.
As a customized large-scale ore ship for project cooperation, the vessel’s operation will further enhance the company’s trans-oceanic shipping channel carrying capacity, fill the gap in high-quality shipping capacity for long-distance ocean iron ore transportation, hedge against external risks such as fluctuations in freight rates and changes in shipping capacity supply in the international shipping market, continue to consolidate the foundation for the transportation of important mineral resources, and help the upstream and downstream industrial chains operate efficiently and collaboratively.