Avance Rigel, a 230-meter-long VLGC (Very Large Gas Carrier), departed Berth D24 of the Dongjiakou Liquid Chemical Terminal of Qingdao Port on September 16 carrying 49,633 metric tons of low-temperature propane.

The amount of propane loaded onto the vessel was a record high for the Qingdao Port Crude Oil Terminal under the Shandong Port Group.

Avance Rigel has a maximum cargo capacity of 89,000 cubic meters.

This is the first time Qingdao Port has handled a VLGC vessel with a cargo capacity of over 49,600 tons.

The amount of time required to load the vessel was also a new record – the port needed just 3.42 hours for the loading and unloading of the vessel.

Thirty foreign trade vessels have berthed at the Dongjiakou Liquid Chemical Terminal this year. The amount of low-temperature propane delivered so far has already exceeded the total throughput for 2022.

Avance Rigel completes its cargo operations and departs from Berth D24 at Dongjiakou Liquid Chemical Terminal of Qingdao Port on September 16. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]