On December 17, the 180,000 DWT liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel Capesize bulk carrier “SG Aquamarine” built by Chinese shipbuilder Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS) for NYK slowly sailed away from the Terminal and officially went into operation. So far, SWS has exceeded the annual production tasks by over-producing 2 commercial vessels.
It is particularly noteworthy that the “SG Aquamarine” is the 292nd Capesize bulk carrier delivered by SWS to date, and it is also the last one in the current order book. Driven by the rotation of segments in the global shipping market, the orders held by SWS will shift to large cruise ships, medium and large-sized and ultra-large container ships, large and ultra-large pure car and track carriers (PCTCs), large and ultra-large oil tankers, and offshore engineering products.
The company aims to create a new situation of lean and coordinated management of diverse products and high-quality, efficient construction in the green and high-end new tracks. This reflects the technological innovation and high-quality development of China’s shipbuilding industry.
The “SG Aquamarine” has a total length of 292 meters, a beam of 45.0 meters, a depth of 24.9 meters, a designed draft of 18.3 meters, a designed speed of 15.25 knots, and is classed by Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK). It is the eleventh-generation Capesize bulk carrier independently developed, designed and built by WSW.
Since June 2003, SWS has delivered the world’s newest green and environmentally friendly 175,000 DWT Capesize bulk carrier designed and developed independently by China. Its global market share has been maintained at around 15% for a long time, making it a global market leader, technology leader, price maker, and a “barometer” of pricing in the international new shipbuilding market.
At present, SWS will develop a new generation of Capesize bulk carriers with more green and environmentally friendly features and more digital and intelligent features based on new market changes and new demands of shipowners, and return to the “Capesize” market at the right time.
Since the beginning of this year, SWS has focused on the business strategy of “consolidating the leading position in large cruise ships and improving the profitability of civil ships and offshore engineering.” The company has adhered to innovation-driven, deepened lean management, and promoted digital and intelligent transformation. These efforts have steadily enhanced the scale and efficiency of the enterprise, presenting a gratifying picture of production and operation going hand in hand.
ccording to statistics, in 2024, SWS delivered 24 ships/2.591 million DWT, including the world’s original 2.3 million barrels general-purpose offshore FPSO, 114,000 DWT Aframax tankers, LNG dual-fuel Capesize bulk carriers and 7000TEU medium-sized container ships, accounting for 109% of the annual plan, becoming the first shipyard in China to deliver more than 100 million DWT of ships in total.
SWS has undertaken 35 ships including 11,000TEU methanol reserved large container ships, 14,000TEU methanol reserved large container ships, 7,000TEU medium-sized container ships, 114,000 DWT Aframax tankers, 158,000 DWT Suezmax tankers and 300,000 DWT Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), accounting for 160% of the annual plan. In addition, with orders for large cruise ships, large and ultra-large PCTCs, the ship types under construction are more diverse and the product structure is more reasonable.
At present, the hull structure construction of the second large cruise ship “Adora Flora City”, which has attracted much attention, has entered the final sprint stage, and the three main projects of the bow/stern/engine room shed area are being promoted in an orderly manner.