The Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Corporation (SWS) under China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) delivered a 114,000-ton oil tanker to a Greek shipping company Thursday, marking the first new vessel delivery of 2025 from Chinese shipyards.
The new ship, named "Seascout," belongs to the latest generation of refined oil tankers independently designed and developed by the SWS, capable of transporting 114,000 tons of refined oil.
The vessel is equipped with an eco-friendly propulsion system, and features upgraded hydrodynamic performance and energy efficiency. It also meets the latest international emission standards, positioning it as a more environmentally responsible option for global shipping.
The new tanker has been well-received in the market, with more than 20 orders currently on hand for this model.
Looking ahead, Chinese shipyards are set to deliver a range of large vessels in 2025, including car carriers, container ships, and liquefied natural gas carriers. Additionally, the second domestically-built large cruise ship, Adora Flora City, is expected to reach key milestones, such as hull completion and its first float-out.
Chinese shipyard delivers 114,000-ton oil tanker
At precisely 07:15 each morning, veteran meteorologist Tsering Dekyi launches a weather balloon from Lhasa Meteorological Station, continuing a ritual that has documented the remarkable transformation of the capital city of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region over half a century.
For 26 years, Dekyi has maintained this precision-critical routine where even a one-second delay constitutes a professional failure.
"Attention to details is vital. The tiniest error can cause disaster. A mistake of just 0.1 in the data input can have a major impact," she said.
As the balloon rises into sky, it captures atmospheric readings while revealing panoramic views of Lhasa's evolving skyline, where ancient temples now neighbor modern infrastructure.
The daily launches, conducted at optimal atmospheric conditions, showcase how this ancient city harmonizes heritage with development. Through the lens of balloon-mounted cameras, prayer-flag adorned rooftops give way to sprawling new residential districts and the gleaming Lhasa-Nyingchi railway terminus.
Meteorological balloons have risen from this station since the 1970s, their flight paths unintentionally chronicling urban expansion. Where observers once saw mostly farmland, they now document a regional hub with highways radiating across the plateau and solar farms powering growth.
As Dekyi watches another balloon shrink to a dot, its sensors will transmit real-time updates about the rarefied air above one of Asia's fastest-transforming cities, where tradition and progress share the same horizon.
Weather balloons witness Lhasa's remarkable transformation
