The "Copernicus" vessel is set to sail fully loaded with wind power equipment and transformers along the China-Poland Red Sea route. On April 28, the naming ceremony for the "Copernicus," the eighth 62,000-deadweight-ton multipurpose heavy-lift vessel of China-Poland Shipping Joint Stock Co., Ltd. (C-P Shipping), was officially held at the Taizhou Port Shipyard. With the addition of this new vessel, C-P Shipping has completed the formation of its most robust and highest-capacity multipurpose heavy-lift fleet to date, marking a significant milestone as the company approaches its 75th anniversary. Adam Bralczyk, Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Shanghai, attended the ceremony. Leaders from C-P Shipping, COSCO Shipping Development, and the Port Shipyard delivered speeches. Katarzyna Bralczyk, wife of the Consul General, served as the vessel's sponsor. Amid her blessings, the "Copernicus" sounded its whistle and embarked on a new journey.
The new vessel is tasked with implementing the latest phase of the China-Poland Action Plan on Strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2024–2027), providing enhanced maritime services to support trade development between the two nations and adding strong momentum to the friendship vessel's full-speed advancement. The "Copernicus" will make its maiden voyage to Taicang, Jiangsu, to load wind turbines, transformers, and other equipment exported from China before setting sail on the China-Poland Red Sea route. Through high-quality transportation services, it will contribute to national development under the Belt and Road Initiative and begin its maritime career.
The "Copernicus" measures 199.85 meters in length, 32.26 meters in width, and 19.3 meters in depth, with a full-load draft of 13.5 meters. It is equipped with four heavy-lift cranes along its sides, capable of a combined lifting capacity of up to 300 tons. The vessel features five large hatch openings with continuously flat hatch covers, offering an effective deck cargo area of 150 by 27.5 meters—equivalent to 9.8 international standard basketball courts—allowing flexible loading of oversized project cargo. This ship type is currently the world's largest multipurpose heavy-lift vessel by deadweight tonnage. Its design fully incorporates green and low-carbon principles, including the installation of an energy-saving duct at the stern. It meets the EEDI Phase 3 standards and Tier III NOx emission requirements, aligning with the direction of international shipping carbon tax compliance systems.
Thanks to its high deadweight tonnage and box-shaped structural design, the vessel offers excellent cargo adaptability and advantages in transporting large-scale project materials, setting a benchmark in the global multipurpose shipping market. With foresight, C-P Shipping pioneered the market by commissioning a series of 62,000-deadweight-ton multipurpose heavy-lift vessels, achieving strong operational results. Since 2021, vessels including the "Taixing," "Herbert," "Pilecki," "Yongxing," "Yu'an," "Boym," and "De'an" have entered service. Some have participated in transporting equipment for Baltic Sea wind farm construction; others, named after "the bravest," have overcome challenges to ensure smooth operations during crises; and several have delivered key equipment for the expansion of Polish chemical plants and the construction of gas-fired power stations. Each vessel has embarked on green voyages supporting global decarbonization goals and the renewal of energy production facilities.
Since January 2026, C-P Shipping's multipurpose heavy-lift service segment has transported 700,000 cubic meters of wind power equipment and over 700 energy storage containers exported from China. The "Copernicus" will soon join this global, future-oriented service network. During the ceremony, Katarzyna Bralczyk, the vessel's sponsor, and Captain Tomasz Kalinowski held a portrait of Nicolaus Copernicus, accompanied by Radostaw Chmielinski, Polish General Manager of C-P Shipping.
Nicolaus Copernicus, a great Polish astronomer who proposed the heliocentric theory, laid the foundation for modern astronomy. The 75-year collaboration between the Chinese and Polish sides of C-P Shipping reflects deep mutual cultural appreciation. Naming the new vessel after Copernicus symbolizes the company's commitment to advancing toward green, low-carbon, and intelligent high-quality development in this new phase.
In recent years, guided by the International Maritime Organization and European Union requirements for carbon emissions and energy efficiency management of international vessels, C-P Shipping's management teams have collaboratively established a unique carbon compliance system for its fleet, charting an optimal course for energy savings, carbon reduction, and smart efficiency toward a "Centennial C-P Shipping." For its existing 30,000, 32,000, and 36,000-deadweight-ton heavy-lift vessels, the company has持续推进节能优化, achieving phased results through upgrades to power systems, improvements to key equipment, and hull antifouling and drag reduction measures. Based on route planning, the C-P fleet has implemented biofuel bunkering点面结合, achieving a 20% carbon reduction rate on relevant voyages.
In 2024, with the formal implementation of the EU Emissions Trading System, C-P Shipping's team conducted repeated assessments and built consensus, earning an A-grade rating for its 2024–2025 EU ETS compliance evaluation. In 2025, as the EU FuelEU Maritime regulation took effect, the two sides worked together to achieve a compliance pool surplus of over 500 tons of CO2 equivalent for the fleet.
In recent years, C-P Shipping has steadfastly integrated the missions and tasks entrusted by both governments, establishing a new vision for corporate reform and development. In 2026, the company will celebrate its 75th anniversary. In June, a shareholders' meeting composed of supervisory authorities from both China and Poland is scheduled to be held. In this new development phase, C-P Shipping will firmly锁定发展方向 under the new部署 of the shareholders' meeting, guided by a new strategic development plan, and further accelerate the construction of a "one body, two wings, multiple drivers" development pattern.
According to statistics, including vessels delivered in 2026 and those under construction, C-P Shipping will introduce 13 new vessels of various types, totaling over 700,000 deadweight tons, into operation over the next two years. This will consolidate the brand's market position and enhance its competitiveness and resilience in the global multipurpose heavy-lift shipping market. Following the "Copernicus," a new梯队 of 38,000-deadweight-ton fore-bridge heavy-lift vessels will begin sea trials in June.
In terms of maritime service development, aligned with operational strategy adjustments, the C-P fleet is advancing at full speed through differentiated complementarity and diversified synergy. In early April, two new 63,500-deadweight-ton bulk carriers, the "C-P Anshun" and "C-P Ankang," were delivered and named, respectively. The addition of these bulk carriers, along with chartered bulk capacity, forms a船型格局 of differentiated complementarity and diversified synergy with the traditional multipurpose heavy-lift fleet, accelerating the expansion of "bulk and breakbulk" operations in the new phase.
In全程物流业务建设, C-P Shipping continues to enhance localized service capabilities at various nodes, integrating its operations into the logistics and supply chain systems of high-end clients. Leveraging the辐射优势 of its Central and Eastern European platform, the company is expanding its service areas and providing end-to-end logistics support for multiple projects under China-Serbia and China-Hungary cooperation. In 2026, C-P Shipping introduced sea-rail intermodal services, including China-Europe Railway Express transport, for the first time in its全程物流业务.
At 75, C-P Shipping is vibrant and dynamic, with the vessel of friendship and cooperation speeding ahead. The company has stated that in the new phase toward "Centennial C-P Shipping," it will continue to leverage its maritime service expertise, seize new opportunities arising from bilateral cooperation, actively support high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, strengthen route development, capacity deployment, and service upgrades, and ensure the steady and rapid progress of the China-Poland friendship vessel.
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