Recently, the 300,000-ton fully loaded ultra-large crude oil carrier "Yuan Teng Hu" with a draft of 20.6 meters smoothly berthed at the Shihua Crude Oil Terminal of Tianjin Port, setting a new record for the maximum draft of an oil tanker entering the port and demonstrating the hard-core strength of the "Northern International Shipping Hub".
"Just 10 centimeters short. Can this ship safely enter the port for operations?" " An urgent problem to be solved was placed before the dispatching and command center of Tianjin Port Group.
A draft depth of 20.5 meters was once the "ceiling" for crude oil unloading at Tianjin Port. The "Yuantenhu" vessel that entered the port this time is 333 meters long and 60 meters wide. It is fully loaded with about 2 million barrels of crude oil and has a draft of 20.6 meters. Its huge body is approaching the passage limit of the main channel of Tianjin Port.
For vessels with ultra-deep draft, "10 centimeters" is by no means a simple numerical increment. It poses extremely strict requirements for the timing of entry and exit from ports, channel conditions, and pilotage operations. It can be said that the depth of a vessel's draft is directly related to the navigation safety of the entire channel. This "10-centimeter" technological breakthrough is the result of the collaborative efforts and precise application of multiple parties.
To address the urgent needs of its clients, Tianjin Port Group has closely strengthened cooperation with port units such as customs, maritime affairs, and border inspection, fully leveraging the advantages of joint efforts to ensure the safe and efficient entry of this vessel into the port. The dispatching and command center promptly initiated a cross-departmental coordination mechanism, conducting joint research and analysis with the traffic management command Center of Tianjin Maritime Safety Administration and the pilotage Center of Tianjin Port. By real-time monitoring of tidal changes, they identified the best window period, precisely calculated the water depth of the channel and the safe margin of the vessel's draft, and repeatedly optimized the berthing route. They formulated a special plan for this "10-centimeter" safety breakthrough.
The pilotage center of Tianjin Port responded promptly and, in accordance with the meticulous pilotage plan formulated in advance, dispatched two experienced pilots to carry out this mission. At 5 a.m., the pilot successfully boarded the "Yuan Teng Hu" vessel and steered this huge oil tanker on the narrow waterway. During the pilotage, the two pilots maintained a high level of concentration throughout, closely monitoring the changes in the tide and the movement of the vessel. They accurately predicted and calmly issued each command to ensure that the giant ship remained in a safe position at all times. At 10 a.m., the "Yuan Teng Hu" vessel smoothly berthed at berth S30. With the last mooring rope firmly fastened, this highly challenging pilotage mission was successfully completed.
The Tianjin Port Shihua Crude Oil Terminal Company, which is responsible for the operation, has deeply coordinated with upstream and downstream units to further enhance the operation efficiency. The company thoroughly analyzed the berth's carrying capacity and the characteristics of the oil transportation process, and formulated an operation plan of "tidal window period matching + efficient transfer connection". Under the premise of ensuring the safe entry of the vessel into the port, it determined the storage and transfer routes after crude oil unloading, ensuring seamless connection between unloading and subsequent supply links, and minimizing the intervals between links to the greatest extent. In response to the special operation requirements of ultra-deep draft vessels, unify the time nodes and operation standards of all parties involved in the operation, eliminate the information barriers and process breakpoints among "vessels, ports and enterprises", and achieve efficient operation of this vessel.
This record-breaking achievement is a concrete manifestation of the concerted efforts and joint efforts of all members of Tianjin Port Group to strive for the completion of all the annual targets and tasks. Not only does it accumulate valuable experience for more super-large vessels to enter the port, but it also further helps Tianjin Port enhance its cargo handling capacity and comprehensive competitiveness. At the same time, it contributes the "Tianjin Port power" to ensuring the stability of regional energy supply and promoting the sustained development of the regional economy.