Delving into Ocean Heavy-Lift Shipping with Steadfast Progress: Fanzhou 7 Achieves World’s First Single-Vessel Shipment of 8 Quay Cranes for Cross-Border Transportation

Recently, MV Fanzhou 7, a self-propelled heavy-lift deck carrier of our company, departed from Dalian Port carrying 8 ultra-large port quay cranes bound for Turkey. This operation set a new global record as the first attempt to transport 8 large quay cranes on a single vessel. It represents an innovative breakthrough for the industry and a major achievement of Fanzhou Shipping’s long-term dedication to the ocean heavy-lift transportation sector.

Each heavy quay crane in this shipment weighs over 1,800 tons, with a total weight of 14,750 tons. These facilities are part of a Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure project in Turkey and will be delivered to Asyaport and Safiport. Once put into operation, the quay cranes will greatly improve cargo handling efficiency and throughput capacity of local ports, optimize regional shipping networks, facilitate trade exchanges along the routes and drive the coordinated development of the global shipping industrial chain.

The total sailing distance of this long-haul ocean voyage reaches 15,100 nautical miles. The route passes through China’s offshore waters, the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, navigating major international waterways including the Sunda Strait and the Strait of Gibraltar, as well as rounding the Cape of Good Hope. The route features complex sea conditions and volatile weather. In addition, the extra height and weight of the quay cranes, coupled with challenges such as difficult berthing and unberthing of large vessels and high precision requirements for stowage and lashing, posed stringent tests for project planning, technical support and safety management.

To tackle all operational challenges, Fanzhou’s project team collaborated with port authorities, escort teams and technical teams to conduct risk assessment and optimize transportation plans. Berthing and unberthing procedures were adjusted based on actual conditions at the departure port. Leveraging data of vessels, cargo and sea conditions, the team upgraded lashing and securing solutions to prevent equipment displacement and abrasion. The whole operation complies with international safety regulations for ocean heavy-lift transportation, and refined management ensured full-voyage navigation safety.

As the key vessel undertaking this extreme transportation task, MV Fanzhou 7 boasts outstanding overall performance. With an overall length of 256 meters, a beam of 51 meters and a maximum deadweight tonnage of 58,000 tons, it is equipped with a spacious flat deck covering 11,700 square meters, which enables the simultaneous loading of 8 giant quay cranes. The vessel has a maximum endurance of 16,000 nautical miles and a regular speed of over 15 knots, perfectly suited for ultra-long-distance ocean transportation.

Fitted with redundant propulsion systems and a twin-rudder control system, the vessel features strong seakeeping capability and comprehensive emergency response mechanisms. It also holds polar navigation certification, enabling navigation across all sea areas. In addition, MV Fanzhou 7 has obtained dual green ship class certifications of G-ECO and G-EP. Equipped with energy-saving main engines and low-carbon operational materials, it balances transportation efficiency, operational safety and environmental protection, fully conforming to the green development trends of international shipping.