Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries' newest heavy-lift ship sails on maiden voyage

A new shallow-draught, heavy-lift vessel built by China's Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC) for use by its own ocean transport arm departed on its maiden operational voyage on Sunday, April 6.

Zhenhua 37 left the Port of Shanghai with two quay cranes as its initial cargo. In addition to transporting cranes, the vessel will also transport modular jetties and other port equipment using its spacious deck, which is rated to carry 25 tonnes per square metre.

The new ZPMC vessel may also transport oversized cargo such as modules for large offshore oil and gas structures, steel bridge segments, and wind turbines.

Zhenhua 37 has an LOA of 170 metres, a beam of 40 metres, a design draught of 6.5 metres, a depth of 10.5 metres, a total deck area of 5,600 square metres, and a maximum cargo capacity of 26,000 tonnes. A DP2 system helps ensure the safe loading and unloading of cargo under a broad range of weather conditions.