Maritime Camel Caravan' Appears! Design Contract for 33,000-ton Deck Transport Vessel Officially Signed

Recently, a design contract for a 33,000-ton deck cargo vessel was signed. The vessel was independently researched and designed by the Shanghai Ship Research and Design Institute (SDARI) of CSSC Group and will be built by Dalian Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Group Co., Ltd. for NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers Ltd. (NBP), a wholly-owned subsidiary of NYK Line.

NBP, understood to be Japan's only shipping company operating heavy-lift vessels and deck cargo ships, enjoys a high reputation in the fields of modular transportation, project logistics, and bulk cargo logistics. In February this year, NBP signed a contract with Dalian Shipbuilding for the construction of a total of three 33,000-deadweight-ton deck cargo vessels, with delivery scheduled for 2027.

This is NBP's first new vessel order in six years, since ordering two 12,500-deadweight-ton heavy-lift vessels from CIMC Raffles Nanjing in 2019. It also marks the first newbuilding cooperation between Dalian Shipbuilding and a top Japanese shipowner, adding another highlight to the in-depth collaboration in high-end equipment manufacturing between China and Japan.

This series of vessels is tailor-made for the transportation of large modular equipment, classed by Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (NK), and will fly the Panamanian flag. Upon completion, they will help NBP expand its business and enhance its market competitiveness.

With a deadweight tonnage of 33,000 tons, this is a highly customized, ocean-going heavy-deck cargo vessel. Its powerful cargo carrying capacity, like a "maritime camel caravan," and wide deck design can meet the transportation needs of various large and heavy cargoes. In the field of large-scale special cargo sea transportation, it will become an undisputed leader in transportation, helping to build safe and efficient special cargo transportation channels globally and empowering international economic and trade cooperation.

In addition to its powerful carrying capacity, the vessel also boasts excellent performance in terms of endurance and resistance to wind and waves. It is equipped with a highly efficient electric propulsion system and air lubrication system, balancing energy efficiency and the needs of long voyages, and can easily handle ocean transportation tasks. At the same time, the vessel adopts an advanced anti-wave design, with stability leading its peers, allowing it to sail safely in relatively complex sea conditions, effectively coping with various climatic conditions and operating sea conditions, providing reliable assurance for cargo transportation and giving shipowners and cargo owners greater peace of mind.

With years of in-depth research and cultivation in the field of ship design, the Shanghai Shipyard Institute continues to promote the continuous innovation and development of ship design technology. In the future, the Shanghai Shipyard Institute will further deepen its exchanges and cooperation with domestic and foreign partners in the shipping field, contributing to the construction of a strong transportation country and a strong maritime country.