As a leader in the global ore carrier classification market, China Classification Society (CCS) consistently provides solid technical support for the development of the global ore carriers industry with professional technical capabilities and a full-lifecycle service philosophy.

On July 22, 2022, the 325,000 DWT Very Large Ore Carrier (VLOC) “BOKM GUAIBA”, built by Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding for BoCom Leasing and South Korea’s KMARIN and fully surveyed by CCS, was successfully named and delivered. The successful delivery of this vessel marks the successful conclusion of the 325,000 DWT series VLOCs project undertaken by CCS. This project marks not only CCS’s first in-depth cooperation with a Korean shipowner in the field of ore carriers, but also a classic case of CCS empowering international cooperation with professional technologies and high-quality services, demonstrating the technical strength and service level of China’s ship survey. It has become another benchmark in CCS’s ore carrier survey sector.

A total of 8 ships in the 325,000 DWT VLOC series were built by Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding and Jiangsu Yangzi Xinfu Shipbuilding respectively. As an important cooperation project between BoCom Leasing and South Korea’s KMARIN, it has put forward high standards and strict requirements for the vessel’s environmental performance, safety, efficiency and construction quality. As the survey authority for this series of vessels, CCS has provided core technical support for the smooth progress of the project by virtue of years of technical accumulation and rich survey experience in the ore carriers sector.

To ensure that project management, survey and service quality meet international standards, CCS set up a dedicated 325,000 DWT VLOC general project team. In strict accordance with the requirements of CCS Key Project Management Guidelines, the philosophy of full-lifecycle vessel service was implemented throughout the project. From design plan approval and construction survey to vessel delivery, CCS provided full-process and integrated value-added technical services for shipowners and shipyards.

This series of vessels features three core advantages: energy conservation, environmental protection, green efficiency, safety and reliability. They are capable of 100% one-time rapid loading in a single hold of all cargo holds, with an average loading rate of 16,000 tons per hour, greatly improving the loading and unloading efficiency of iron ore maritime transportation. They also adopt a single-person bridge design. The bridge view, control console and equipment layout are scientifically optimized to ensure the safety of vessel navigation and maneuvering. Meanwhile, the vessels obtained CCS additional class notations for natural gas-fueled power system-ready and stress monitoring, which are in line with the global shipping green and low-carbon transition trend. They stand out in energy saving, consumption reduction and emission control, fully reflecting the development direction of modern ultra-large ore carriers. All these high-standard design and construction requirements have been accurately implemented under the professional survey and technical guidance of CCS.

In the survey of this series of vessels, the CCS on-site project team innovatively proposed a survey model characterized by “proactiveness, risk orientation, initiative, and service orientation”. With careful planning and meticulous implementation, the project was escorted by professional, efficient and attentive services. The project team intervened in the production design stage in advance, conducted detailed drawing checks, and held multiple rounds of technical exchanges with shipyards and shipowners on technical difficulties in vessel construction to avoid construction risks in advance. At key construction nodes, non-destructive testing experts were invited to carry out special welding quality inspections using advanced TOFD testing technology to control the safety of the vessel structure from the source. The construction progress was proactively followed up throughout the process, and survey arrangements were flexibly adjusted according to the production plan to fully cooperate with the construction rhythm of the shipyard and ensure the efficient progress of the project.

The professional technical capabilities, rigorous working attitude and thoughtful value-added services of the CCS project team have won high recognition and praise from KMARIN (South Korea), BoCom Leasing, shipyards and management companies, setting a model for technical services in Sino-foreign ship cooperation.

The successful completion of the 325,000 DWT series VLOCs project is another practical verification of CCS’s ore carrier survey technology and service capabilities, as well as an important breakthrough for CCS in expanding international cooperation and enhancing international recognition.

——The other seven sister vessels are listed below:

“BOKM SHANGHAI”

 “BOKM ZHOUSHAN”

 “BOKM NINGBO”

“BOKM TUBARAO”

“BOKM QINGDAO”

“BOKM TIANJIN”

“BOKM DALIAN”