Fujian Shipbuilding's two 18,500-ton oil and chemical tankers successfully complete trial voyages and return triumphantly.

Recently, the 18,500-DWT oil and chemical tanker (DN517-5), built by Southeast Shipbuilding under Fujian Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, and the 18,500-DWT oil and chemical tanker (MW516-3), constructed by Mawei Shipbuilding, successfully completed their sea trials and returned safely.

This vessel has a total length of 149.8 meters, a molded breadth of 22.8 meters, and a molded depth of 12.7 meters. It is designed with the flexibility to be retrofitted for methanol dual-fuel operation. The ship can primarily transport crude oil, petroleum products with a density below 1.54 tons per cubic meter, as well as Class II and Class III chemicals, liquid chemicals—including cargo covered under MARPOL Annex I and the IMO Class II and III petroleum products specified in the IBC Code. Additionally, the vessel’s main engine and generator sets are equipped with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems for nitrogen oxide emission control, ensuring compliance with IMO Tier III standards, while also meeting the enhanced ice-class requirements of ICE CLASS 1C.

The vessel features a multi-load-line design, meeting the requirements of various flag states and port authorities. Its liquid cargo system is equipped with six independent transmission units driven by variable-frequency hydraulic systems, simultaneously powering six liquid cargo pumps and one ballast pump. This configuration enables the ship to unload liquid cargo from all six systems concurrently. Each individual liquid cargo pump boasts an discharge rate of 300 cubic meters per hour, while the maximum combined discharge rate reaches up to 1,800 cubic meters per hour. The propulsion system relies on a low-speed two-stroke diesel engine, paired with a controllable-pitch propeller and a front-mounted energy-saving guide wheel assembly, as well as a flapped rudder equipped with a rudder bulb. Additionally, the ship is fitted with a variable-frequency shaft-driven generator set, allowing it to operate without auxiliary generators during navigation. This innovative setup not only reduces the vessel's overall energy consumption but also significantly enhances its maneuverability and operational efficiency.

During this trial voyage, both vessels underwent rigorous sea trials and acceptance inspections. The project team successfully completed inspections of a range of critical systems, including the ship's power system, navigation and communication equipment, vessel stability, and environmental emission controls. All test data met the design specifications, earning unanimous approval from both the shipowner and the classification society.

The 18,500-DWT oil and chemical tanker is currently a key construction project being actively promoted by Fujian Shipbuilding. The company has already successfully achieved mass production of this vessel type, establishing a mature, standardized, and series-based production model. This approach has significantly optimized supply chain management, production processes, and construction workflows, not only cutting down the individual ship-building cycle considerably while ensuring consistent, reliable product quality, but also boosting overall production efficiency and enhancing market competitiveness—thus laying a solid foundation for securing more similar orders in the future.