COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers has deployed DA XIANG, DA XIN and DA AN to transport 17 rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs) from Zhenhua Heavy Industries’ Nantong base in China to Walvis Bay, Namibia.
The three vessels were used in a coordinated loading operation for the full shipment of port equipment. The work was carried out under a tight preparation schedule and third-party inspection requirements.
Vessel allocation, terminal operations and loading activities were coordinated during the operation, which also included night-time work. All 17 RTGs were loaded and passed the required inspection on the first attempt, according to the project information.
Two of the vessels, DA XIN and DA AN, are listed by COSCO SHIPPING Heavy Transport as Da Type 3 ships. Both were built in 2013. The type has a length overall of 179.57 m, a moulded breadth of 28 m and a depth of 14.8 m.
The Da Type 3 design is equipped with one 100 t crane and two 350 t cranes, providing a combined safe working load of 700 t. COSCO’s specifications also list a design speed of 15.2 knots and capacity for 1,045 TEU.
DA XIANG, IMO 9768552, is classed by China Classification Society (CCS) as a general dry cargo ship and sails under the Chinese flag. CCS records show a gross tonnage of 21,992.
A separate CCS publication describes DA XIANG as a multipurpose heavy-lift ship built by CSSC Shanghai Shipyard for COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers. The vessel measures 179.67 m in length and 28 m in width, with a depth of 14.8 m.
Following the loading operation at Nantong, the 17 RTGs are bound for Walvis Bay. According to the project information, the equipment is intended to support cargo-handling operations and increase throughput capacity at the Namibian port.
