Applications of CCS DH32 Steel Plates in Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering

1. Applications in Commercial Shipbuilding

1.1 Bulk Carriers and Container Ships

Key components:

Side plates, bottom plates, decks, bulkheads, hatch coamings, and hull frames.

Operating conditions:

Subject to wave-induced bending, cargo impact, alternating loads and seawater corrosion.

Performance Advantages:

Yield strength ≥315 MPa, enabling a 10%–15% reduction in hull weight compared to ordinary steel.

Excellent low-temperature toughness (–20°C), ensuring safety on winter routes.

Project Case Study:

The 80,000-tonne bulk carrier ‘Pacific Star’ utilised DH32 steel for approximately 60% of its hull structure, achieving a 12% reduction in weight and an 8% reduction in fuel consumption.

1.2 Oil Tankers and Chemical Tankers

Key Components:

Cargo tank shells, longitudinal/transverse bulkheads, deck plates, and engine room structures.

Operating Conditions:

Resistance to hydrostatic pressure and cargo corrosion, whilst withstanding low-temperature environments in cold regions.

Performance Advantages:

Good corrosion resistance (due to Nb/V microalloying).

High fatigue strength, with a design service life of ≥25 years.

2. Applications in Offshore Engineering

2.1 Offshore Platforms and FPSOs

Key components:

Jack-up legs, columns, deck supports, riser protection devices, mooring structures.

Operating conditions:

Long-term exposure to seawater, salt spray, wave impact and low-temperature environments.

Performance Advantages:

Possesses Z25/Z35-grade thickness-directional properties and resistance to laminar tearing.

High strength helps reduce platform deadweight and construction costs.

Project Case Study:

The column structure of the “Blue Whale 1” semi-submersible drilling platform utilises DH32-Z35 steel, capable of withstanding 15-metre waves and temperatures as low as –20°C.

2.2 Support Structures for LNG and Natural Gas Carriers

Key Components:

Enclosure system brackets, secondary bulkhead structures, deck stiffeners.

Operating Conditions:

Cryogenic temperatures (–162°C for LNG), high stresses and fatigue loads.

Performance Advantages:

Impact energy Akv ≥ 27 J at –20°C, with impact resistance at –50°C available upon request.

3. Applications in Specialised and Polar Vessels

Polar icebreakers and Arctic route vessels:

Used for icebreaker bows, hull plating and internal structures, requiring resistance to temperatures as low as –40°C and impact from ice loads.

Research vessels and patrol boats:

Used for sealing support structures and reinforcing the hull to withstand severe sea conditions.

Fishing vessels:

Used for hulls, decks and bulkheads to meet the requirements of cold-water fishing operations.

4. Applications in Marine Infrastructure

Floating docks and shipyard facilities:

Used for structural frames, deck plates and load-bearing components to withstand heavy loads and high-frequency cyclic operations.

Port unloading arms and bridges:

Used for high-strength structural components in coastal port cargo handling equipment.

Conclusion

CCS DH32 steel plate combines high strength, excellent low-temperature toughness, good weldability and corrosion resistance, making it an indispensable material in modern shipbuilding and marine engineering. Its widespread application in merchant ships, offshore platforms and marine infrastructure fully demonstrates its outstanding performance and cost-effectiveness.