Recently, the first tank of the 9,450m³ stackable stainless steel fuel tank project built by Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co., Ltd. (hereinafter "CIMC SOE") for Zhoushan Changhong International Shipbuilding & Repairing Co., Ltd. (hereinafter "Changhong International") was successfully completed and delivered at the Jinhai Base, and the lifting operation was successfully completed at the dock of Daishan Changhong Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. This also marks the first project delivered by the Jinhai Base. MSC resident shipowner representatives, DNV classification society surveyor representatives, and the project team attended the on-site delivery ceremony.
Group photo of the project team
The 9,450m³ stainless steel fuel tank delivered this time is currently the world's largest stackable Type C stainless steel fuel tank, marking a new technological breakthrough for CIMC SOE in the R&D and construction of ultra-large marine clean energy tanks. The tank has an overall length of approximately 40 meters, a height of approximately 29 meters, and a delivery weight of over 1,100 tons. It adopts the industry-leading stackable bi-lobe structural design. Compared with traditional single-tank and horizontal bi-lobe tank structures, it can efficiently adapt to the hull layout of ultra-large container vessels, maximize the effective use of cabin space, and significantly optimize vessel loading efficiency. In terms of material and performance, the tank is constructed with enhanced stainless steel material, with a minimum design operating temperature of -163°C, offering excellent low-temperature resistance, high strength, and corrosion resistance. It can simultaneously meet the storage needs of multiple clean energy sources such as LNG, ammonia, and methanol, adapting to multi-category dual-fuel vessel power systems, with industry-leading versatility and advanced performance.
The construction process for ultra-large stainless steel tanks is complex. During project advancement, the team successively overcame a series of technical challenges, including procedure qualification for new stainless steel materials, high-precision welding deformation control, dimensional precision control for ultra-large tanks, barge transport, turnover, and integration of extra-high and extra-heavy tanks, and hydrostatic testing of large tanks. The project team carried out refined overall planning throughout, targeted optimization of construction processes, and improvement of special implementation plans, efficiently resolving various construction challenges and ensuring high-standard, high-quality, on-schedule delivery.
Fuel tank loading
The fuel tank will be installed on 19,000 TEU dual-fuel container vessels built by MSC at Zhoushan Daishan Changhong Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., providing power for the vessels. The tank delivered this time is the first product of the 35-vessel-set 9,450m³ fuel tank series project under the deep cooperation between CIMC SOE and Changhong International. This series of tanks is tailor-made for MSC's 19,000 TEU and 21,700 TEU ultra-large container vessels, precisely matching the green upgrade needs of large ocean-going vessels.
Tank lifting and installation
With years of dedicated work in the marine tank sector, CIMC SOE has established long-term stable strategic partnerships with industry leaders such as Changhong International and MSC. Previously, the company successfully completed the delivery and application of 20 vessel sets of 9% nickel steel stackable Type C LNG fuel tanks, successfully supporting MSC's 10,300 TEU and 11,500 TEU large container vessels, and has earned high recognition for stable product quality and professional project services. The successful delivery and lifting of this 9,450m³ ultra-large-capacity stainless steel fuel tank once again validates the company's customized construction capabilities for high-end marine tanks across multiple materials, structural forms, and large capacities. It further consolidates the company's core competitive advantages in the clean energy offshore equipment sector and fully demonstrates the high trust placed by shipowners and customers in the company's technical strength and quality control system.
For a long time, CIMC SOE has focused on deepening its expertise in the marine clean energy tank sector, fully covering Type A, B, and C tank products, and achieving customized R&D and construction of tanks in multiple materials including carbon steel, nickel steel, and stainless steel. Looking ahead, the company will continue to focus on green shipping development trends, deepen core technology research on ultra-large stainless steel tanks, continuously iterate products and upgrade processes, and leverage its strong offshore engineering equipment capabilities to support the green, low-carbon transformation and high-quality development of the global shipping industry.
