Chipolbrok’s Newest MPV Begins Maiden Voyage

By Simon West

Chipolbrok’s newest vessel, Chełmoński, has begun its maiden voyage carrying 11 complete sets of wind turbines to South Africa, marking the operational debut of a new generation of multipurpose heavy-lift ships for the Chinese-Polish carrier.

Commissioned in September 2026, the 182-meter-long vessel loaded its first cargo at the Chinese ports of Taicang and Dongzao under charter to HongFa Shipping, Chipolbrok’s Shanghai-based sister company. It is bound for Saldanha Bay, where discharge operations are expected to begin in early November. The voyage will conclude at Lobito, Angola, with further employment planned.

The vessel is the first in a new four-strong series, known as the “Matejko” class, being built at the ZPMC shipyard in Qidong, China. Its sister ship, Wyspiański, is preparing to enter Far East-Europe service, with planned calls in Turkey, Antwerp and Hamburg.

Both ships were launched in May 2026 and are the first in Chipolbrok’s fleet with dual-fuel-ready capabilities, allowing for potential future conversion to alternative fuels.

Designed for oversized project cargo, particularly wind energy components, the 38,000-dwt vessels feature a forward-positioned superstructure to maximize cargo space. Each is equipped with three 350-ton deck cranes, offering a combined tandem lifting capacity of 700 tons, and 5,066 square meters of deck space.

Construction of the two additional Matejko-class ships is already under way at ZPMC, Chipolbrok said. The program will help prepare the company for the eventual replacement of four older Orkan-class vessels.

The ships continue Chipolbrok’s tradition of naming vessels after prominent Polish artists and historical figures. Chełmoński honors Józef Chełmoński, a celebrated 19th-century Polish realist painter known for his landscapes and depictions of rural life.

Chipolbrok will be exhibiting at Breakbulk Asia 2026. Meet the team at Stand K31.