On May 23, the China State Shipbuilding Corporation's subsidiary, Chengxi Shipyard Co., Ltd., delivered the first 88,800-DWT bulk carrier, "CARDIFF," two months ahead of schedule, marking the commencement of Chengxi Shipyard's "Whale" series deliveries. This event signifies new achievements in Chengxi Shipyard's journey of innovation.

The 88,800-ton bulk carrier is a new generation of green ship type independently developed and optimized by Chengxi Shipyard based on the "star ship type" 85,000-ton bulk carrier. Its economic performance indicators, such as speed, fuel consumption, and cargo hold capacity, are advanced or leading among similar ship types. The vessel has a total length of 228.9 meters, a width of 37 meters, a depth of 20.2 meters, a design speed of 14 knots, and is classified by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).

This "Whale" series, independently developed and built with simplicity, efficiency, and lightweight design in mind, features three major highlights:

1. Increased Deadweight Tonnage: Without exceeding traditional main dimension limits, the deadweight tonnage of the 80,000-ton class ship type has been increased to over 89,500 tons for the first time.

2. Significantly Improved Operational Economy: By applying a new design concept of a wide-body, small block coefficient, and slender stern, the ship achieves an optimized speed in still water during the design phase and improved speed control in wind and waves during operation, significantly enhancing the vessel's operational economy.

3. Optimized Structural Design: The ship actively promotes refined structural design, reducing weight and optimizing the number of components. Compared to the 85,000-ton bulk carrier, the steel weight has been reduced by more than 700 tons, and the number of structural pieces has been reduced by over 40%, reaching an internationally leading level among similar ship types.