The world's first 209,000-DWT Newcastle dual-fuel powered bulk carrier built by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co is delivered to Singapore EPS on Jan 28. [Photo/Pudong News]

The world's first 209,000-DWT Newcastle dual-fuel powered bulk carrier was delivered to Singapore EPS on Jan 28 by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co, which is based in the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, marking a milestone for Chinese shipyards in building big dual-fuel bulk carriers. 

The ship is 299.5 meters long and 50 meters broad, with green, environmentally friendly, energy-saving, and safety features. Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding developed and designed it independently. 

Both LNG and conventional fuel can be used to power the vessel. It has two C-type LNG tanks, allowing it to go 20,000 nautical miles (37,040 kilometers) without refueling – two round trips between China and Australia or one round trip between China and Brazil. 

The LNG-powered vessel has achieved zero-particulate matter and zero-sulfide emissions.

Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding completed the delivery of 1.18 million compensated gross tonnages of newly built vessels in January, including three 210,000-DWT Newcastle regularly powered bulk carriers and one 2.3-million-barrel general FPSO (floating production, storage and offloading). 

Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC), was inspired by CSSC's high-quality development plan. To maintain its international competitiveness, the shipyard continues to adopt green shipbuilding innovations, optimize and upgrade its design and construction craftsmanship of its cruise liners, bulk carriers, oil vessels, and container ships, and steadily improve construction standards.