Chinese-Polish joint venture Chipolbrok has returned to the shipbuilding marker after an absence of four years.
The liner and project-cargo joint venture has commissioned heavy-duty equipment manufacturer Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co Ltd (ZPMC) to build up to four 38,000-dwt multipurpose heavylift ships.
Listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, ZPMC disclosed Chipolbrok’s newbuilding deal.
A state-owned company, ZPMC said Chilpolbrok’s deal marked the company’s entry into the MPP heavylift vessel business.
Clarksons’ Shipping Intelligence Network shows ZPMC has so far built heavylift cranes, semi-submersible vessels, heavy-deck cargo ships, dredgers, anchor-handling tug supply vessels and offshore support vessels.
The price of Chipolbrok’s new MPPs was not disclosed, but one broker suggested they are costing around $49m each.
Three 250-tonne cranes will be installed on the quartet. The vessels will have two extra-long cargo holds of a maximum length of 76.8 metres and will be equipped with an all-access open-air deck that would allow the loading and transporting of large machinery, equipment and large-scale project objects.
The cargo hold has a movable second deck and can be adjusted at different heights, allowing maximum flexibility in loading cargo of various sizes.
The vessel is also equipped with energy-saving devices that will further reduce power consumption and emissions.
ZPMC is scheduled to deliver the pair of firm vessels in 2026.
Founded in 1992, Shanghai-based ZPMC is a subsidiary of the state-owned China Communications Construction Company. The parent company is involved in investment, construction, and operation of transport infrastructure, equipment manufacturing, urban development, and other sectors.
Chipolbrok celebrated its 73rd anniversary in June. It was said to be the first Sino-foreign joint venture to be formed under the People’s Republic of China.
It started with four secondhand vessels and today it has a fleet of 33 ships, with a capacity of more than 1.2m deadweight tonnes.
