China has completed what is believed to be the world’s largest bulker-to-containership conversion project, transforming an 80,000 dwt Kamsarmax bulk carrier into a cellular container vessel with a capacity of 3,600 TEU.
The project involved the former bulk carrier Chang Xin 66, a 2012-built vessel based on Deltamarin’s Kuangchi Delta Kamsarmax design. Following a six-month conversion programme, the ship re-entered service as the containership Guang Qi De Er Ta.
According to the China Classification Society (CCS), the project is the first known large-scale conversion of a Kamsarmax bulker into a fully fledged containership and represents a significant technical milestone for the shipbuilding industry.
The work was carried out by Zhoushan Xinya Shipbuilding & Repair under CCS supervision. Engineers undertook extensive structural modifications, including a complete redesign of cargo holds, reinforcement of the hull structure and installation of cellular guides and container lashing systems required for container operations.
The vessel, previously reported at 43,746 gt, now offers a carrying capacity of 3,600 TEU following the conversion, which was completed on June 10.
CCS described the project as a breakthrough due to its scale and technical complexity. Converting a bulk carrier into a containership requires substantial changes not only to cargo spaces but also to vessel systems, stability calculations and cargo-securing arrangements.
The project reflects a growing trend in the shipping industry as owners seek faster ways to increase container carrying capacity amid strong demand and limited shipyard availability for newbuildings. While smaller bulker-to-containership conversions have been completed in recent years, including several Handymax vessels in China, the Guang Qi De Er Ta is believed to be the largest vessel converted for container service to date.
