COSCO Shipping Specialized Carriers welcomes new eco-friendly multi-purpose vessel

COSCO Shipping Specialized Carriers, a unit of China’s COSCO Shipping Group, has taken delivery of and christened the second vessel in its 62,000 dwt series of multi-purpose (MPP) heavy lift vessels—the MV Yuan Fu.

Following the earlier delivery of its sister-vessel, the Guang Fu, the Liberia-flagged MV Yuan Fu was built and delivered at the CSSC Chengxi Shipyard in the city of Jiangyin, China, with 10 additional vessels of the same type planned for delivery from 2024 to 2025.

Boasting an overall length of 199.9 meters, a 32.26 meter beam and a 13.50 draft, this Supramax bulk carrier features five box-shaped holds which are said to allow for flexible loading of a wide range of heavy equipment cargoes and containers.

The MV Yuan Fu is described as an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly vessel as it reportedly meets Tier III emission requirements for nitrogen oxides (NOx) and complies with the latest sulfur oxide (SOx) standards.

According to COSCO Shipping Specialized Carriers, the maiden voyage of the MV Yuan Fu will be the South America East route where the vessel would undertake Goldwind’s wind power project with a task to carry the project’s equipment to Brazil.

The delivery of MV Yuan Fu is said to represent a ‘major’ milestone for the company. Multi-purpose heavy lift vessels are its core business and with the addition of Yuan Fu, COSCO Shipping Specialized Carriers now operates a fleet of over 60 MPPs.

In early August this year, the company welcomed the second 68,000-ton ice-class multi-purpose pulp ship, the Green Kotka. The methanol-ready Green Kotka was designed to navigate polar regions ‘efficiently’, while accomodating diverse cargo types, such as wind power units, and locomotives.

The month before that, COSCO Shipping Specialized Carriers held a naming ceremony for a newbuild eco-friendly 77,000 dwt multipurpose pulp vessel.

Christened the Green Itajai, the ship possesses a total hold capacity of 88,600 cubic meters as well as four heavy cranes, which are said to be capable of lifting up to 300 tons. Upon delivery, the Green Itajai was scheduled for a maiden journey from China to South Africa.