The supertanker SAMAIL, which was loaded with 260,024 metric tons of crude oil, docked at the crude oil terminal of the Zhongke Refinery and Petrochemical project on Sept 13.

This was the first very large crude oil carrier that had a nearly full load berthing at the crude oil terminal of Zhongke, setting a record high. It also marked that the crude oil terminal, which has a designed capacity for 300,000-ton tankers, entered the normal production stage.

SAMAIL is 330 meters in length and 60 meters in width. It has a full draft of 22.5 meters and a full load capacity of 299,992 tons.

The ship departed from Saudi Arabia on Aug 25, and arrived at the anchorage place outside Zhanjiang Port on Sept 12.

The Zhanjiang-based Zhongke Refinery and Petrochemical project, which is currently the largest joint venture refining and petrochemical project in China, was put into operation on June 16. The temporary opening of its crude oil terminal for six months was officially approved on May 26.

To date, six tankers have berthed at the crude oil terminal, discharging a total of 909,000 tons in crude oil.

The supertanker SAMAIL docks at the crude oil terminal of the Zhongke Refinery and Petrochemical project on Sept 13. [Photo by Lin Jianghai/Zhanjiang Daily]