China claims to have achieved a ‘world record’ in shipbuilding by developing a massive cargo ship similar to its Fujian aircraft carrier.
Named Fan Zhou 8, the cargo ship has an unprecedented carrying capacity of 58,000 tons. The ship recently completed five days of trials and has now been declared ready for all kinds of sea operations.
The flat-top cargo ship is claimed to have strong seaworthiness and also meets the requirements of the Polar Code, according to local media reports. Authorities have also maintained that the ship can navigate in small drifting ice floes.
Sailing tests conducted
Multiple professional sailing tests in the waters east of Shanghai were conducted, proving the flat-top cargo ship’s seaworthiness.
The heavy load carrier, built in 2024, is currently sailing under the flag of China and has a length of 850 ft (256 m) and it’s 167 ft (51 m) wide, according to Marine Vessel Traffic. The location of the cargo ship is now seen around South China, as per online ship trackers.
The ship has a range of 16,000 nautical miles, which is equivalent to about 18,392 miles. It’s also being claimed that the vessel can go to speeds exceeding 15 knots and traverse areas with small drifting ice floes, making it polar-ready.
The ship’s deck occupies most of the hull and is capable of transporting a wide range of cargo, including offshore oilfield, wind, and nuclear power equipment, as well as large vessel steel structures or sections.
Chinese bloggers have compared the size of the deck to the Fujian, the country’s first domestically developed aircraft carrier, which is estimated to be about 984 ft (300 meters) long and 229 ft (70 meters) wide, according to South China Morning Post.
China advancing shipbuilding capabilities
China has been advancing its capabilities to produce higher-value vessels, reflecting its strategic focus on expanding its maritime infrastructure and industrial output. However, the ultimate purpose of the Fan Zhou 8 remains uncertain. Although it has been painted in civilian green with no aircraft markings. But its size, similar to the Fujian aircraft carrier, has sparked speculation about its potential military applications.
MSC Irina, the world’s largest container ship, was also built in 2023 in China. The vessel, which is currently en route to the port of Yantian, is about 400 meters long and 51 meters wide.
Not first to be developed in China
The Chinese industry, which continued to leverage substantial state support and production capabilities, experienced about 18% and 43% year-on-year growth in output and orders in the first half of the year, according to official data. The industry’s growth is expected to continue as global market demand increases and the Chinese military expands its naval capabilities, including the size of its fleets, according to SCMP.
Reports have also claimed that the latest deck vessel is not the first to be developed in China, where the industry has been experimenting with new kinds of ships in recent years, most notably the state-owned giant China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).
