Jiangnan Shipyard’s No. 3 dry dock completed the fifth batch of ship launches for the year on schedule.

On August 15, Jiangnan Shipyard’s No. 3 dry dock welcomed its fifth batch of vessel completions this year. This time, two fully assembled vessels—the 99,000-cubic-meter ultra-large ethane carrier (H2726) and the 14,000-TEU single-fuel container ship (H2872)—were floated out, while two half‑built hulls were lifted from the dock.

For this batch’s float-out, the construction team further strengthened coordination across departments and processes, effectively mitigating challenges posed by a tight schedule and adverse weather conditions such as high temperatures and heavy rainfall. This ensured the successful completion of the second dry-docking phase while also securing ample construction space, resources, and time for the final assembly of the new 1,600‑ton gantry crane. Through enhanced management practices and technological advancements, the team is on track to achieve on‑schedule float‑outs, laying a solid foundation for meeting the annual production target of eight float‑outs.

The 99,000-cubic-meter Very Large Ethane Carrier (H2726) is the ninth vessel in the 2.0‑version series of 99,000-cubic-meter Very Large Ethane Carriers (VLECs) built by the company for Southwest Shipping, and also the final ship of this series.

Building on the construction experience of its predecessor, the vessel’s team has maintained a balanced focus on quality and schedule, rigorously enforced safety management protocols, and leveraged cutting-edge intelligent manufacturing capabilities to ensure the ship’s high‑quality, efficient launch.

The vessel advanced efficiently under the “33‑cycle” construction model, leveraging six standard management practices and 12 core technical initiatives. Prior to float‑out, it achieved the “531+N” objectives; building on this, it successfully completed, for the first time in Dock No. 3, the pre‑float‑out goal of starting the main generator and conducting a trial run, while also igniting the boiler and initiating the boiler‑firing process. Meanwhile, cable‑laying and inspection in the engine room were finalized, the engine room was illuminated, cabin‑deck painting and sandblasting were completed, insulation work was finished, and all scaffolding in the engine room was dismantled and cleared. On the deck, cable installation reached 85%, deck lighting was commissioned, exterior hull painting at 90°C was completed, all scaffolding was removed, and ballast tank coating was finished. The construction team steadfastly met each milestone, laying a solid foundation for post‑float‑out tests, including generator mooring trials, liquid‑filling strength verification, and main‑engine commissioning.

The 14,000‑TEU single‑fuel container vessel (H2872) is a 14,000‑TEU single‑fuel container ship built by Jiangnan Shipyard for Mediterranean Shipping Company, with supervision provided by Boya. Prior to leaving the dock, the vessel successfully achieved the “331” objectives—namely, “three zeros” (zero onboard equipment, zero trial‑container issues, and zero painting defects), “three network connections” (connected piping, connected electrical systems, and connected information networks), and readiness of the generators for testing—and completed full‑ship simulated trial‑container stowage and simulated lashing trials, thereby ensuring the smooth and efficient execution of subsequent construction and commissioning phases at the terminal.

The two vessels being floated out in tandem are the first of a series of 13,000-TEU methanol‑dual‑fuel container ships built by Jiangnan Shipyard for ONE—specifically, the aft half of vessel H2860—and the second vessel in the series, the forward half of vessel H2861.

Among them, the lead vessel H2860 introduced a novel wire‑pulling illumination process for the first time; it also completed the methanol tank strength test during the dock‑yard phase and passed acceptance on the first attempt; furthermore, it was the first to conduct functional tests using air‑lance modules, thereby advancing an integrated production workflow that combines shipbuilding, outfitting, and commissioning.

The construction team at Jiangnan Shipyard’s Dock No. 3 stated: “For this batch of vessels, our team braved the dual challenges of scorching heat and the plum rain season, successfully weathered the twin tests posed by Typhoons Bavi and Maysak, and proactively prepared for the next dock‑out schedule. We are firmly committed to maintaining the annual production pace of eight vessel batches!”