On the night of June 2, accompanied by a gentle breeze, bright moon, and twinkling stars, the first 250,000-ton bulk carrier returned from its trial voyage. During the trial, the ship encountered many difficulties and challenges, but after several sunrises and sunsets, the faces of those returning were filled with excitement and joy.

1.

The trial voyage plan for the "HOUHENG 5" was not optimistic from the start. The large hull, complex machinery, and low configuration undoubtedly increased the difficulty of the trial. However, the shipbuilders at Changhong International proved a saying with their actions: Just do it!

Before the trial, the mechanical and electrical personnel worked overnight for several nights to conduct mooring tests on the main engine.

The rescue boat is crucial for the safety of personnel on board and must be released at a speed of five knots as per regulations. The dock repair department brainstormed and, with the cooperation of the tugboat, moved the subsequent work forward, completing the rescue boat release test at the dock in advance. This was the first time for the company. All relevant departments worked together without a single complaint.

2.

At 10 a.m. on the 27th, the HOUHENG 5 left the company dock and arrived at the inner anchorage at 3 p.m. The trial personnel took their positions to make final preparations for the inspection items.

As the ship gradually sailed away from the dock, the calm sea was serene and peaceful, but the HOUHENG 5 was bustling with activity from the bridge to the engine room—there was a malfunction during the main engine adjustment test! Everyone's nerves were immediately on edge. In fact, the main engine had already issued an alarm signal while still at the dock, but the head of the shipbuilding department's second division raised doubts with the manufacturer to no avail. Helplessly, in the vast ocean, to ensure smooth high-speed operation ahead, they had to dismantle parts of the main engine from the land-based No. 2 ship and have them transported by Changhong tugboat to be reinstalled on the trial ship.

As soon as the tugboat docked, several workers changed into work clothes and immediately got to work on the installation. Time was tight, and they faced severe tests. The temperature in the main engine's scavenging box was above 50°C, and the workers inside were enduring the high temperatures every minute. To prevent iron filings, dust, and other debris from entering the main engine, the work site could not use fans for ventilation, and the workers were sweating profusely. To avoid dehydration, everyone kept drinking water, but the water would evaporate with sweat almost immediately.

There was also a very touching scene. A worker named Li from the Shunde team was installing when, due to poor visibility in the cabin and a broken wrench, he was unfortunately hit on the bridge of his nose. He completely ignored the pain and remained focused on his work. By the time the installation was finished, he was bleeding profusely, but he waved his hand dismissively, saying, "It's just a minor injury," demonstrating a commendable spirit of dedication.

On the 28th, the weather was fine, and the water depth in the area where the ship was located was moderate, allowing the anchoring test to proceed on time. To save time, the project team adapted to the situation throughout the trial, arranging things reasonably and trying to advance the project as much as possible.

Then the main engine reached its optimal state, and the endurance test began. This test is the most critical project of the trial, covering almost all performance tests of the main engine. While operating at full load, an alarm suddenly went off. Upon inspection, one of the six cylinders had a significantly higher temperature, prompting an emergency reduction in speed for the main engine. Fortunately, it was a minor issue with a single cylinder, and the staff repaired it in time, resulting in a false alarm.

In the following days, everything went smoothly, and the inspection items followed one after another. In the early morning of the 31st, the last project, the drone cabin inspection, began. The test required the main engine to operate continuously at economic speed for 4 hours without failure. This was a test of the operating status of the main engine and related equipment, a verification of the preparatory work, and a test of the psychological quality of the trial personnel. If an alarm occurred during the process, they would have to start over. To ensure a successful outcome, all work areas prepared thoroughly, with electricians assigned to check and eliminate potential hazards at each alarm point from the start of the trial; plumbers cleaned the sewage wells, and fitters cleaned the filters... Thanks to thorough preparation, the inspection passed smoothly.

On the morning of the 31st, news of the successful completion of the trial voyage spread, and everyone cheered with joy.

3.

As the first ray of sunlight on the Pacific West Coast shone on the sea, the HOUHENG 5 sailed proudly, a unique deep red against the azure sea at full speed.

During the more than 100 hours of the trial voyage, over 130 participants were fully engaged, with their focused figures seen in every corner.

Bao Debao from the Quality Assurance Department was busy communicating with the shipowner and ship inspection, accompanying inspections, recording parameters, and solving problems, hardly getting any sleep. After completing the final test, despite being exhausted, he still insisted on organizing the feedback from the shipowner and the inspection agency. Zhang Kun, the chief engineer, often forgot to eat when busy, frequently having irregular meals. Several department heads went sleepless for the first few days, staying on the front lines of the trial. Li Jinming, the piping supervisor, joked that he was even working in his dreams.

Textual descriptions are one-sided and cannot intuitively showcase the hard work of the shipbuilding frontline employees who toil day and night, but it is worth affirming that without everyone's hard work, nothing would have gone so smoothly.

Q&A time:

Author: As the overall person in charge of the 250,000-ton bulk carrier, do you have any insights to share?

Zhang Yiquan, head of the shipbuilding second division: The 250,000-ton ship is one of the more challenging projects undertaken by Changhong. Personally, I focus on clarifying the overall work ideas, emphasizing functional allocation, and not wasting any talent. Everyone has their own role, and doing their own job well is key.

Author: What preparations were made before the trial voyage?

Zhang Yiquan: First, we organized a project team meeting. Second, we standardized the production plan arrangement. Third, we strengthened communication and management, optimizing resource allocation. On one hand, we went deep into the frontline to understand the production dynamics in the workshop, tracking feedback and making timely adjustments, reasonably arranging the production rhythm to ensure the completion rate of the plan; on the other hand, we strengthened communication and negotiation with the shipowner and ship inspection, actively seeking support and cooperation from all parties.

Author: What was the biggest difficulty during the trial voyage of the 250,000-ton ship? Did you encounter any memorable events?

Zhuo Hui, deputy head of the shipbuilding second division: The biggest difficulty was communication. Of course, through efforts, we were still able to understand each other's true thoughts, based on reality, coordinating comprehensively. Although it was difficult, we managed to do it. As for memorable events, it was when we were about to dock, and the hydraulic oil pipe of the winch burst, and we could only make a temporary repair. At that time, it was already dark, and we were still being tested right before the trial was completed.

Author: What was your feeling about participating in the trial voyage for the first time?

Shipbuilding Department II Intern: You're probably feeling both sleepy and tired. Everyone has hardly slept well, but we are all consciously sticking to our posts without slackening off. You know, with such a large ship, we encounter various challenges. The leaders are working even harder than we are. I've learned a lot from them and hope not to miss any trial voyages in the future.