Shanghai Shipbuilding Research and Design Institute (SDARI) announced the launch of two state-of-the-art multi-purpose vessel designs, the OCTOPUS 12.6 and OCTOPUS 12, featuring groundbreaking green technologies and intelligent design. Developed in partnership with Toepfer Transport GmbH and certified by Det Norske Veritas, these ships represent a major leap in eco-friendly and efficient maritime solutions, promising significant advancements in cargo handling and fuel economy.

On April 17, the Shanghai Shipbuilding Research and Design Institute, part of the China State Shipbuilding Group, celebrated the award of the Approval-in-Principle (AIP) certificate from Det Norske Veritas (DNV) for two innovative vessels, the 12,600-ton multi-purpose vessel OCTOPUS 12.6 (HL500) and the 12,000-ton multi-purpose vessel OCTOPUS 12. This certification signifies the ushering in of a new era of green and intelligent ship design for the 12,000-ton class at the Shanghai institute.

These innovative vessels, a collaboration between SDARI, DNV, and Toepfer Transport from Germany, were jointly developed over eight months. They adhere to the highest standards of energy efficiency and emissions, meeting Stage III of the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) and the Tier III nitrogen oxide emissions standards. They feature the intelligent DOSS® energy efficiency management system, developed in-house by SDARI, offering options for both two-stroke or four-stroke engines, and methanol as a fuel choice.

The OCTOPUS 12.6 (HL500) shows substantial improvements over its predecessor, the 12,500-ton F500 (2014). It includes a single cargo hold and dual 250-ton deck cranes. The superstructure has been moved from the stern to the bow, enhancing navigation and manoeuvrability. Its deck cargo area has expanded by about 40% making it ideal for transporting large engineering equipment, while its fuel consumption has been reduced by approximately 15%, .

The OCTOPUS 12 has also evolved from its 2004 predecessor, the F-type. It features a more compact design, lower construction costs, and improved fuel efficiency, with a reduction of about 56%. It comes equipped with two 80-ton up to 120-ton deck cranes and an enlarged cargo hold, optimized for general and bulk cargo.

The OCTOPUS ship platform allows for versatile configurations across the 12,000-ton size segment, facilitating quick cost estimations and reducing construction times. The OCTOPUS 12.6 design can be modified to create the extended OCTOPUS 12.6XL or the shorter OCTOPUS 12.6XS, while the OCTOPUS 12 can also be adapted to a shortened version.

Toepfer Transport GmbH, a specialized shipbroker based in Hamburg, Germany, plays a pivotal role in this joint development project and is acting as the sole and exclusive broker for these new designs, ensuring a streamlined market introduction and client engagement for these advanced vessels.

Hannes Hollaender, managing partner and newbuilding broker with Toepfer Transport, highlights: “Our innovative approach to developing a new type of ship for the MPP market stems from a synthesis of our market intelligence-driven shipbroking, the expertise and proficiency of a leading vessel design powerhouse, and collaboration with the most recognized Classification Society in the MPP sector. We take pride in our involvement in this project, which has produced cutting-edge vessel designs offering unparalleled versatility in size and propulsion options.”