Chapter 440 New Opportunities (Second update, please subscribe)
It takes time from the birth of an idea to its implementation.
In order to fulfill the boss's wish, a "Liberty Ship" of the Borneo Shipping Company sailed into Chang'an Shipyard and was transformed by shipbuilding engineers.
For shipyards, container ships are a brand new design. First of all, it is not easy to design an ideal box. It is not only light in weight, but also strong and not easy to deform, and it must be easy to use. For loading, unloading and stacking of ships and road transport by trucks.
At the same time, it is also necessary to design the fixed facilities on board the container. In short, everything is difficult at the beginning. The implementation of an idea must solve a series of engineering problems.
In fact, it is not just a problem on container ships. As the pioneer of this system, we also need to research the entire container logistics system. Container transportation is not just as simple as a box, but a systematic project. First of all, huge containers cannot be transported by manpower as in the past, so hoisting tools such as tower cranes are necessary. In addition, large quantities of goods must be transported efficiently and smoothly. It also requires a series of links such as ports and warehouses to cooperate with each other.
Then through continuous exploration and adjustment, we not only solved the problem of what to use, but also gradually established a complete set of container transportation solutions.
And all this takes time.
Just as the free ship "Partner" sailed into the dock of Ping An Shipbuilding Company and began to be renovated, a 24,000-ton oil tanker had already taken shape on the No. 1 slipway of Ping An Shipbuilding Company.
< br>Oil tankers are the pioneering works of Ping An Shipbuilding Company - when shipping companies purchased a large number of old cargo ships, Ping An Shipbuilding Company directly set its sights on oil tankers and ore ships. The former is because Nanyang is rich in oil, and the total oil output More than 6 million tons need to be transported by tanker to other countries for sale. The latter is because Nanyang needs to import iron ore, coal and other minerals from Australia.
After finding the accurate positioning, there is no need to worry about the market, especially the ore ships, because the shipping company in Nanyang only had three ore ships at the beginning, and they were old ships used by Japan to offset war reparations. But millions of tons of iron ore and coal need to be transported every year, so you can imagine how big the market space is.
So the 10,000-ton ore carrier became the pioneering work of Ping An Shipbuilding Company. In October last year, after the delivery of the first 15,000-ton ore carrier, while designing a larger 25,000-ton ore carrier, the shipyard turned its attention to large oil tankers. Under the leadership of Chief Engineer Schmidt , designed this 24,000-ton oil tanker.
"The total length is 178.6 meters, the molded width is 25 meters, the molded depth is 12.6 meters, 16,464 gross tons, 24,744 deadweight tons, 22,300 cargo tons, draft 9.5 meters, the main engine is a low-speed diesel engine, 5,600 horsepower, and the speed is 12 knots , with a range of 11,000 nautical miles..."
Standing by the window, looking at the oil tanker on the slipway, Schmidt naturally thought of the "Stearman" oil tanker he participated in the design of before the war, but It carries 23,060 tons of crude oil. The Mobil Oil Company tanker, the largest oil tanker in the world, was sunk by a German submarine in Central America during the war.
“Although it is a new ship, the prototype of the "Makassar" is still the "Stearman". After it is put into service, even if it wins the title of the world's largest oil tanker, it will not make any sense. , in the eyes of the world, there is not much difference between the "Makassar" and the "Stearman", both are 178 meters long."
Schmidt, who was holding the pipe in his hand, took a puff and turned back to Zhu Wanzhe.
“So, I think it is necessary for us to design a larger tonnage—such as a 50,000-ton oil tanker. It will definitely bring an unprecedented reputation to the shipping company, allowing us to get more orders!”< br>
What is the most important reputation for a shipyard? It means building big ships that no other country has ever built. Only in this way can the shipyard become more outstanding in front of many peers around the world.
"Haha, Mr. Shi, you and I thought of each other!"
Zhu Wanzhe said with a smile.
“According to the annual report released by oil companies, their oil production this year will exceed 10 million tons, 50% of which will be exported. Most of them are transported by foreign tankers, and our oil and petroleum products are mainly sold to Australia and India. Outside of surrounding areas, the most important market is Europe, and the demand for oil in European countries is also growing. The larger the tanker, the lower the transportation cost. Currently, large tankers of more than 20,000 tons are very scarce in various countries. Fifty thousand tons... is unprecedented!”
As a shipping company manager, Zhu Wanzhe is not a shipbuilding expert, but he understands the market, which is why he chose the ore ship. The reason why this relatively unpopular ship serves as a breakthrough point.
After receiving orders for 15 ore carriers, Zhu Wanzhe turned his attention to oil tankers because he saw their market potential - at a time when wartime ships, mainly free ships, flooded the market. , special ships are the best choice.
“However, if the risk jumps from 24,000 tons to 50,000 tons all at once, will the risk be too great?”
Zhu Wanzhe asked with some worry.
"What are the risks? Our slipway is 480 meters long, and our shipbuilding facilities are also the most advanced in the world. The Japanese once used their "Yamato" with a weight of more than 60,000 tons. There is certainly no need for us to use it to build a 50,000-ton oil tanker. Problem. ”
In fact, only part of the equipment of Changan Shipbuilding Company comes from Japan, and a considerable part of the equipment is imported from countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom, etc. Schmidt, as the company’s chief engineer, is very clear about the company’s potential. How big. "If we want, we can even build a 100,000-ton oil tanker, but it has no way to pass through the Suez Canal and can only go around the Cape of Good Hope route in Africa. In terms of transportation cost-effectiveness, well..."
After thinking for a moment, Schmidt said.
“Actually, if 100,000 tankers are used to transport oil and go around the Cape of Good Hope route in Africa, it is still cost-effective in terms of fuel costs. Before the war, considering that the Suez Canal was under British control, we had Research has been conducted on 100,000-ton oil tankers, but large ships are expensive and difficult to build. In addition, the Royal Navy can also blockade the Cape of Good Hope, so the research was shelved.”
He shrugged his shoulders regretfully. Suddenly, Schmidt seemed to have thought of something. He walked to the world map and stared at the map as if calculating something. Seeing this, Zhu Wanzhe also walked over and looked at it with him. Holding the map.
Although he didn’t know what Schmidt was thinking of, Zhu Wanzhe knew that it must be related to the Cape of Good Hope and Suez.
After comparing the two routes repeatedly in his mind, an idea suddenly came to Zhu Wanzhe's mind.
“Could it be...”
“We can build a 100,000-ton oil tanker!”
Schmidt looked at the manager with some excitement and said,
"Manager Zhu, considering that we are far away from Europe, we can completely consider building a 100,000-ton oil tanker. After the oil tanker leaves Taiping, it will take the Cape of Good Hope from the Sunda Strait. , compared with the Suez Canal, the voyage is at most 2,500 nautical miles longer. The reduction in transportation fuel costs, coupled with the absence of Suez Canal passage fees, is completely cost-effective in terms of shipping costs..."
10 10,000-ton oil tanker!
This is the largest ship in human history!
Any naval engineer who can preside over its design and construction will definitely go down in history!
Compared to Schmidt's excitement, Zhu Wanzhe was very calm. He looked at the map, thought about it for a moment, and finally turned his attention to Schmidt. said.
"Chief Engineer Shi, what do I think about this? Let's design a 50,000-ton oil tanker first! After all, we are just getting started, so it's better to be more cautious."
Don't say 100,000 tons. Although the super cruise ship of 50,000 tons has not yet appeared, even the 50,000-ton one has not yet appeared. Although as a shipyard manager, Zhu Wanzhe knows very well what kind of sensation a 100,000-ton oil tanker will cause, but no matter what...you have to find a buyer first. !
You have to eat your food in one mouthful. If you take a long step, it’s easy to pull off the eggs!
Then he changed the topic and said.
"By the way, you, Mr. Shi, are also personally responsible for the container ship you want. Although this matter may not seem big, it is a matter that you personally deployed after all, so there is no room for any sloppiness."
The manager’s words made Schmidt nod his head repeatedly.
“I know that your idea about container transportation is very good. If container transportation can be used, transportation costs will be greatly reduced. Now let’s try to modify a few ships. If it succeeds, we will definitely do it. New container ships can be designed and built, which is also a new opportunity. Manager, we should conduct research in this area and seize this opportunity tightly.”
For the Taiping Shipyard, the same goes for container ships. It is also their chance and opportunity. With the birth of new technologies, some great enterprises will also be achieved. As long as these companies can seize the opportunity, they are bound to achieve achievements that will impress the world.
For shipbuilding companies, both giant oil tankers and large container ships are the focus of the future shipping industry.
Unknowingly, Taiping Shipyard has entered this trend. It's just that they don't know it when they are in it.
Even those who have witnessed it do not know that they are in a period of great change in the shipbuilding industry...
(End of this chapter)