On the first day of the new year, the Nantong Rugao Haitong Shipyard was decorated with colorful flags. The 63,500-ton bulk carrier "HJ SINGAPORE" slowly departed from the berth under the guidance of Nantong Pilot Station pilots Li Yin and Wu Junjie, cutting through the waves on its way to the open sea. This marked the beginning of its new journey in ocean transportation and set a new chapter for the smooth delivery of newbuild ships from Nantong Port in 2026.
The "HJ SINGAPORE" is one of a series of vessels ordered by Singapore-based HJ Shipping Holdings Pte Ltd. The ship has a length of 199.9 meters, a width of 32.26 meters, and a depth of 18.9 meters, with a single vessel cost of approximately $30 million USD. This series comprises a total of four ships, with the first vessel having been successfully delivered in November 2025. The newly launched "HJ SINGAPORE" is the second in the series, while the remaining two are progressing steadily according to the construction plan.
The "HJ SINGAPORE" will join the shipping company's Asia-Europe route, serving trade demands along the "Belt and Road" initiative. Pilotage for newbuild ships requires highly detailed pilotage plans and contingency measures. To ensure the smooth departure of the "HJ SINGAPORE" from the river, the Nantong Pilot Station implemented a tailored "one ship, one policy" service approach. They intervened early to comprehensively grasp the vessel's information and status, organized technical expert discussions, scientifically selected the optimal time for river departure, assigned a team of skilled pilots to conduct the guidance, and maintained dynamic monitoring throughout the entire departure process, meticulously implementing safety measures to solidify the foundation for the newbuild vessel's successful delivery.
These rigorous and detailed efforts exemplify the Nantong Pilot Station's efficient support for the departure of newbuild vessels. According to statistics, the Nantong Station completed pilotage tasks for 59 newbuild ships and offshore engineering products throughout 2025. At 13:40, the pilot team boarded the ship; at 14:20, the vessel successfully departed the berth; at 15:20, it safely passed under the Hu-Su-Tong Yangtze River Bridge; at 17:20, it safely navigated past the Su-Tong Yangtze River Bridge; and by 20:00, the vessel had safely reached the Shanghai waters of the Yangtze River, completing the pilotage for the Jiangsu section.
In the new year, the Nantong Pilot Station will continue to provide precise and efficient pilotage services, building a bridge for newbuild ships to reach the world. It will guide more "Made in China" vessels to set sail on long voyages, injecting pilotage momentum into the development of Nantong Port's high-end shipbuilding and offshore engineering industry cluster.
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