On Oct. 12, Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd launched a delivery ceremony for a 206-kiloton Capesize bulk carrier, which was independently developed and researched by China.
This ship, named "Lan Mei," was customized for the U.S. Linfair shipping Co., Ltd. It is the largest Capesize bulk carrier in the world in terms of tonnage, and it is also the largest bulk freighter exported to United States. Capesize carriers have an unlimited capacity, and are named as such because, until recently, their size rendered all such ships unable to pass through the Suez Canal, forcing them to use the Cape of Good Hope.
The ship is 299.92 meters in length, 50 meters in width, with a molded depth of 25 meters and a design draft of 16.1 meters. It is an upgraded product of the 170-kiloton freighter.
The Capesize bulk carrier was officially marketed on Oct. 15, 2009. The total orders of this ship type reached 23 as of this September. It has become the main competitive product of Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
Experts say the 206-kiloton Capesize bulk carrier is expected to be the main ship in the bulk freighter market because of its features of environmental, economical and large size.
Date: October 15, 2011 Source: english.peopledaily.com.cn; Ma Xi
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