China Launches World's Largest Bulk Carrier

 

The mammoth ore ship, built by the Wuhan subordinate of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), can carry 400,000 metric ton deadweight (DWT). It will go into service for ore transportation between China and Brazil upon delivery, which is expected in April 2018.

 

At 362 meters long, 65 meters wide and 30.4 meters deep, and a deck equivalent to three soccer fields, it's 25 meters longer than the world's largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford.

 

Considering the huge size of the ship, innovation has been made to ensure its safety, stability and its energy saving and environment-friendly properties.

 

 Han Bing, general manager, Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry, quoted as saying: ""The safety of structure is the biggest challenge of building such a mega-size ore ship. So, we comprehensively optimized the structure of the ship compared with the first-generation ore ship."

 

The ship boasts seven cargo spaces and a reserved large fuel bunker, which will help it to transport bulk cargo as far as 25,500 nautical miles.

 

The ship is equipped with the High Voltage Shore Connection System (HVSC), which means no electric generator is needed when the ship berths at ports, achieving zero-emission at ports.