On April 20, COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers named the Fuzhou Bay, a 9,000 dwt specialized liquid cargo vessel, in Fujian Province. The vessel is reported to be the world's first ship to receive the additional class notation for 3D model digital delivery and the first commercial transport vessel in China certified by China Classification Society (CCS) for compliance with underwater radiated noise class requirements. Equipped with green and intelligent technologies, the vessel injects robust new productive forces into the development of the "Maritime Fuzhou" initiative.

The 9,000 dwt specialized liquid cargo carrier (MW518-2), named Fuzhou Bay, has an overall length of 119.8 meters, a design speed of 13 knots, and an endurance of 12,000 nautical miles. Constructed by Mawei Shipbuilding, the vessel features a newly designed low-resistance hull form, integrated with multiple energy-saving devices. Its energy efficiency and emission reduction performance rank at the advanced level within the industry, meeting IMO Tier III nitrogen oxide emission standards. The cargo tanks are specially engineered to safely transport a diverse range of liquid cargoes, including asphalt, refined oil products with a flash point above 60°C, and IMO Class II chemicals, thereby accommodating a broad spectrum of customer requirements.

The vessel is simultaneously equipped with three categories of digital and intelligent systems encompassing ship safety intelligence, vessel intelligence, and crew intelligence. These systems integrate a full spectrum of applications, including an integrated intelligence platform, smart engine room, intelligent energy efficiency management, intelligent spare parts management, 360-degree panoramic berthing assistance, visual enhancement, collision avoidance warning, crew behavior perception, virtual reality ship viewing, and intelligent equipment for waterborne rescue. This comprehensive suite establishes a robust foundation for constructing a vessel digital twin system and empowering safety management through digital and intelligent technologies.

"Through digital means, we have delivered a comprehensive 3D digital model to the shipowner concurrently with the physical vessel. This model contains full-element data encompassing design drawings, the construction process, and equipment parameters," stated Mr. Lin Qing, Head of the Quality Assurance Department at Fujian Shipbuilding Heavy Industry. "The digital model achieves complete data continuity across the vessel's entire lifecycle, meeting the digital management requirements of shipping enterprises. Crew members and maintenance personnel can intuitively access the location and parameters of every piping system and piece of equipment, significantly facilitating routine maintenance and troubleshooting."

With the strong support of Mawei Shipyard, China Classification Society, and other relevant entities, the Fuzhou Bay has been awarded four significant additional class notations by CCS:

Digital Delivery (HM, ED) – denoting 3D digital delivery of the vessel's 3D model and associated data.

Underwater Noise 2 (10-100Hz) & Underwater Noise 1 (100-100000Hz) – denoting compliance with underwater radiated noise limits.

Biodiesel Fuel – denoting readiness for the use of biodiesel fuel blends.

i-ship (E) – denoting intelligent energy efficiency management capabilities.

COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers currently owns and controls a fleet of over ten specialized liquid cargo vessels, comprising various classes including 6,000 dwt, 7,500 dwt, and 13,000 dwt tonnage categories.