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The new semi-submersible vessel named Xin Guang Hua (translated as “Son of Guanghua”) was built by CSSC Offshore & Marine Engineering at the shipyard in Guangzhou (China), commissioned by COSCO Shipping Company.
Construction of the vessel from the class of specialized carriers was started with the ceremony of cutting steel in April 2014. On December 8, 2016, Guangzhou hosted a ceremony of blessing and transferring it to the ship owner. At the moment it is the largest ship of this type in China and the second largest in the world, after the “Dockwise Vanguard” (built in 2013).
Semi-submersible specialized shipping vessel “Xin Guang Hua” has the flag of Hong Kong. Shipbuilder is CSSC Offshore & Marine Engineering, shipyard in Guangzhou, China. Owner and operator is COSCO.
Main characteristics
- Deadweight 98,000 tons
- length 255 meters
- width 68 meters
- maximum draft is 10.5 meters
- board height is 14.5 meters
- the speed is 13.5 knots.
Free deck space is 208.4 meters long, 68 meters wide. The height of the semi-submerged deck is 16 meters. It can carry cargoes weighing up to 85,000 tons, accommodating 100 people.
Power is supplied from two diesel-electric engines with a capacity of 10,500 kW each. It is driven by 2 fixed-pitch propellers. Bow thrusters: 2 x 2650 kW. Stern thrusters: 2 x 2650 kW.
The vessel can be used for dry transportation of ships, drilling platforms, offshore structures, self-lifting drilling rigs (SPBU) and construction equipment. It can provide power supply to the cargo during transportation with a voltage of 440V.
Newsfeed
On March 5, 2016, the COSCO press service reported that on July 6, 2015, Shell was awarded a contract for the transportation of the Appomattox rig platform, weighing 41,165 tons from South Korea to Texas. COSCO will use the new vessel Xin Guang Hua for transportation. As reported on December 29, 2016, the ship loads its first cargo consisting of barges with modules.
On January 5, 2017, in Singapore, the ship was loaded with a pipe-laying machine.