Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., CSSC together with China Shipbuilding Trade Co., Ltd., Bank of Beijing Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. and Shandong Marine Group Ltd. recently signed a building contract on four GuaibaMax-type methanol-fulled 325,000-tonnage VLOCs (very large ore carriers). Provided with the methanol-fueled system and advanced decarbonization technologies including wind driven rotors and high-voltage shore power among other energy-efficient measures, the vessel is considered as the most energy-efficient VLOC in the world.

The GuaibaMax-type 325,000-tonnage methanol-fueled VLOC, with a length of 340m and a width of 62m, has been included by the DNV and CCS, underlining Qingdao’s tremendous strength in the building of VLOCs. With the design of a maximized methanol fuel compartment, under the methanol-powered mode, the vessel can see a reduction of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and sulfur oxide emissions by 86.5%, 60% and 99%, respectively. Under the fuel oil-powered mode, the vessel’s propulsion power can reduce by about 7.2% and daily oil consumption can be lowered by 5 tons, marking a significant improvement in energy efficiency. (Zhou Xiaofeng)