World's largest bulk carrier launches in Qingdao
By Jin Dan | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2017-09-21 13:38
China-made world's largest bulk cargo carrier Ore Tianjin was launched in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province, on Tuesday.
The mammoth ore ship, built by the Wuhan subordinate of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), can carry 400,000 metric ton deadweight (DWT). It will go into service for ore transportation between China and Brazil upon delivery, which is expected in April 2018.
At 362 meters long, 65 meters wide and 30.4 meters deep, and a deck equivalent to three soccer fields, it's 25 meters longer than the world's largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford.
The ship boasts seven cargo spaces and a reserved large fuel bunker, which will help it to transport bulk cargo as far as 25,500 nautical miles.
Compared with other huge ore carriers in the world, the ship is "greener" too, as its fuel consumption is 20 percent less. It means the transportation cost of 1 kg iron ore will be reduced by 30 percent.