China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) subsidiary CSSC Guijiang Shipbuilding has begun conducting sea trials of a new workboat ordered by the Hong Kong Marine Department (HKMD).
Ever Safe No 1 (长安一号; Chang'an No. 1) is one of two workboats ordered by the HKMD in 2024. They will be used primarily for the transport of explosive cargo and other dangerous goods in support of the construction activities of the Hong Kong Civil Engineering and Development Department.
The new workboats will replace two earlier CSSC-built vessels that have been performing a similar function for the HKMD since they were delivered in 1998.
Each new workboat will have an LOA of 33 metres, a beam of seven metres, and a depth of 3.5 metres. Compared to their predecessors, the newer cargo vessels will also boast stronger hulls, greater range, and a high operating speed.
The vessels will also be fitted with selective catalytic reduction systems and solar panels to supply 100 per cent of the electrical power requirements of their respective onboard systems.
The new HKMD workboats are scheduled to be delivered during the first half of 2026.
