China: Semi-Submerged Vessel Development Way Leaves CIC Changxing Shipyard

The vessel “Development Way” is a 25.000 DWT Semi-submerged ship with unlimited navigation Areas. The repair project of the subject type ship was undertaken by CIC Changxing Shipyard for the first time.

She is also the first domestic designed semi-submerged ship converted from a LPG vessel. She can tow an engineering ship for long-distance voyage in semi-submerged condition by water ballasting. When the subject vessel alongside a berth, she needs a fender of at least 3m in diameter. Before her arrival, the yard’s engineering department, dispatching department & workshops held a seminar to discuss the solution which employed two barges as a bridge to deal with the problem.

All related departments and workshops paid high attention to this project, focusing morning & evening tide, and the clearance between the barges & berth. Furthermore, since there was no handrail or bulwark on both sides of the ship, the yard set up the guardrail at first to ensure the safety of berthing.

As soon as the ship’s berthing, the yard organized workshops to lift the equipments, made production preparation and worked over night to ensure the repair project to be finished within short time.

[mappress]

Shipbuilding Tribune Staff, December 5, 2011; Image: csgcic