Ultra-large bulk carrier sets Tianjin Port draft record

China's Tianjin Port set a record for accommodating international cargo vessels on Wednesday as the ultra-large bulk carrier Zhonghai Ronghua, carrying 311,000 metric tons of cargo, safely docked with a maximum draft of 22.18 meters — the deepest ever recorded at the port.

The vessel is about the length of three football fields, measuring 330 meters long and 57 meters wide. Its arrival marks a milestone in Tianjin Port's ability to handle ultra-large deep-draft ships.

"With a draft of 22.18 meters, there is virtually no margin for error," said marine pilot Chen Zhong. "Even the slightest deviation could pose safety risks."

To ensure a safe arrival, Tianjin Port and the Tianjin Maritime Safety Administration conducted detailed surveys of channel depth, analyzed tidal conditions, and monitored weather and vessel movements in real time to identify the optimal docking window.

"We coordinated six tugboats and implemented precise speed control to ensure the vessel passed the shallow section during the high-tide window," said

Yang Tianhua, deputy director of the navigation department at the Tianjin Maritime Safety Administration, described a process of coordinating six tugboats during the high-tide window. "We monitored the ship's dynamics and the navigational environment in the surrounding waters while synchronizing real-time meteorological data," Yang said. "Before entering the port, visibility must exceed 1,000 meters, and wind speed should not surpass level 7."

According to Tianjin Port, the vessel completed the maneuver without incident. The successful docking demonstrates its growing capability to accommodate the world's largest bulk carriers and is expected to further strengthen its role as a major international shipping hub.

The national record for the deepest-draft international cargo vessel remains 23.1 meters, set by the Brazil, which docked at Lianyungang Port in Jiangsu province with 394,200 tons of iron ore in March last year.