Shandong-based Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Co, a subsidiary of Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group Co, delivered a very large ore carrier (VLOC) to Brazilian miner Vale SA, said Chinese state media.
China Daily said that the ship, named Ore Tianjin, has 400,000 metric tons' carrying capacity and is the first VLOC the group has made for Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Leasing.
Aiming to reduce the shipping cost by increasing capacity and enhance the operator's global competitive edge, the ship has a loading capacity equivalent to 6,666 regular freight train cabins, it said.
The vessel uses 20 percent less fuel than first-generation VLOCs, slashes transport costs for iron ore by 30 percent and can be loaded much quicker than its predecessors. It can travel between any two ports in the world without needing to refuel.
The ship was designed by Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute. Started in 2016, the ship was successfully undocked last September and finished its first test ride earlier this year.
The ship is 362 meters in length, 65 meters in breadth and 30.4 meters in height. It weighs 54,200 tons.
"The bulk carrier can sail at a speed of 27 kilometers per hour for 25,550 nautical miles nonstop. It means the ship can sail between any two ports in the world without extra fueling," the company said.
Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding will deliver a total of eight VLOCs of this kind to different clients within the year.
Four more Valemaxes will be built by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS), whereas the remaining two are assigned to China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu).