On the morning of July 21, CSSC Chengxi Shipyard delivered the world’s first independently developed 41,800 DWT bi-directional sailing self-unloading vessel, the “WONTANARA”, to the Rio Tinto Group.

The “WONTANARA” is the first of five transshipment vessels built for transporting iron ore from the Simandou development project in Guinea, led by Rio Tinto. The vessel measures 215 meters in length overall, 42 meters in breadth, and 14.5 meters in depth, with a design draft of 7.5 meters and a deadweight tonnage of 41,800 tons. It features a single cargo hold measuring 135 meters in length with a capacity of 29,000 cubic meters. Classed by DNV, the vessel adopts a double-hull, double-bottom, single-deck, and no-topside-tank structural design, with a full diesel-electric propulsion system that is environmentally friendly and in line with global shipping emission reduction trends.

CSSC Chengxi Shipyard stated that the vessel has set three world records – the world’s largest shallow-draft transshipment self-unloader by deadweight, the world’s fastest professional self-unloader in terms of discharge rate, and the world’s first self-unloading transshipment vessel with bi-directional sailing capability in its tonnage class.

The 41,800 DWT self-unloader is owned by SimFer, a joint venture between Rio Tinto, Chalco Iron Ore Holdings, and the Government of Guinea.

As a key piece of equipment for transshipment operations from shallow-water wharves to deep-water anchorages in the Simandou iron ore project, the vessel will be deployed in the waters off West Africa after delivery. It also represents a significant achievement under the Belt and Road Initiative. Upon full production, the project will supply a massive volume of high-grade iron ore to global markets every year.

CSSC Chengxi Shipyard added that once all five vessels of the same type operate in a coordinated shuttle pattern, they can complete the full transshipment and loading for a 200,000 DWT ocean-going bulk carrier within 24 hours, minimizing the anchorage waiting time of large bulk carriers and effectively enhancing the mine’s shipping capacity and economic returns.