The first 50,000-ton LPG tanker successfully berths at the liquefied hydrocarbon terminal of Huizhou Port
On June 26, the 50,000-tonne liquefied hydrocarbon terminal at Huizhou Port’s Quanwan Port Area completed its maiden large-scale vessel berthing operation. The LPG carrier Zante Gas was safely piloted into berth by the Huizhou Port Pilot Station, further consolidating the navigational support foundation for the operation of petrochemical projects in the region.
The vessel involved in this operation, Zante Gas, is a large LPG carrier of the 50,000-tonne class. It measures 230 metres in length, has a gross tonnage of 49,267 tonnes, and a draught of 10 metres. This call represents the first time a large-scale liquefied hydrocarbon carrier has been received at the terminal since it was completed and commissioned.
At 7:20 a.m. that day, two seasoned senior pilots from the Huizhou Port Pilot Station boarded the vessel and assumed full responsibility for the entire pilotage operation, including its entry into the port, turning and berthing. The operation took place in waters with highly variable currents, which imposed stringent requirements on manoeuvring precision. Drawing on their extensive hands-on experience, the pilots conducted real-time assessments of wind, current and wave conditions, fine-tuned the vessel’s speed and heading, and coordinated tugboats in a well-regulated and steady manner. Throughout the process, they maintained full control of the vessel’s trim and proactively steered clear of all potential navigational hazards.
Unlike conventional bulk carriers, LPG carriers are classified as high-risk specialized transport vessels, characterized by their highly flammable and explosive cargo, massive hull dimensions, extremely demanding maneuvering precision, and significant berthing risks.
“As this was the terminal’s first trial berthing, there were no established operational references available for the harbour basin’s navigational environment, current and hydrological conditions, or berth compatibility – which placed immense pressure on both pilotage execution and safety control,” said Yang Fuguo, Director of the Huizhou Port Pilot Station. He added that the station had made preparations a full week in advance. Prior to the operation, a team of senior technical experts was convened for dedicated briefings and pre-voyage safety meetings. These sessions involved a comprehensive assessment of the terminal basin’s navigable dimensions, the surrounding navigational environment, tidal patterns and regimes, as well as local hydro-meteorological characteristics. Based on this analysis, a tailored pilotage plan, emergency response protocols, and a full suite of safety safeguards were developed.
At 9:30 a.m., the Zante Gas was smoothly, precisely and safely berthed at Huizhou Port’s 50,000-tonne dedicated liquefied hydrocarbon terminal. The entire operation proceeded in a safe and orderly manner, fully validating the terminal’s navigational access and berthing capabilities, as well as the suitability of its facilities. It also demonstrated the Huizhou Port Pilot Station’s exceptional professional expertise and its highly effective emergency response capacity.
It is learned that the 50,000-tonne liquefied hydrocarbon terminal in the Quanwan Port Area of Huizhou Port is a key provincial and municipal key infrastructure project. It serves as a critical supporting facility for the ExxonMobil Huizhou Ethylene Project and the Yuxin Chemical LHC integrated project. The terminal has a total length of 280 metres and is designed to handle 2.5 million tonnes of cargo annually. It can accommodate either one 50,000 GT large-scale LPG carrier or two 3,000-tonne class medium-sized LPG vessels. As the first large-scale, specialised public LHC terminal in Huizhou Port, it will, upon commissioning, fully assume the LPG import role for the Daya Bay Petrochemical Industrial Zone and the Huizhou New Materials Industrial Park, addressing the critical shortfall in dedicated LHC terminal facilities and, in doing so, ensuring a reliable raw material supply line for key industrial projects.
Reported by LIU Jianwei, ZHANG Zenghua
