The eleventh of a series of twelve so-called lakermax bulk carriers being built for Polish Steamship Company (PŻM/Polsteam) has been officially christened. Polsteam Ros is now preparing to embark on her maiden voyage.

The vessel's godmother was Ewa Florczyk, Head of Personnel at Polsteam's Insurance Department, while Captain Jarosław Drewkowski has taken command of the ship.

Polsteam Ros will begin her inaugural voyage by loading cargo at the Chinese ports of Zhenjiang and Tianjin. She will then sail to Providence on the east coast of the United States before continuing to Thorold, Canada, in the Great Lakes region.

"The delivery and christening of another lakermax vessel marks an important milestone in the ongoing modernisation of the Polish Steamship Company's fleet and represents another step forward in expanding our fleet of ships designed for operations in the demanding waters of the Great Lakes. We wish the crew of Polsteam Ros safe voyages, fair winds and always a safe return to port," the shipowner said in a statement.

Polsteam Ros is a specialised 36,700-deadweight-tonne (DWT) bulk carrier built by Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company (DSIC) in China. Measuring 200 metres in length and 24 metres in beam, the vessel has been specifically designed to trade between the world's oceans and the North American Great Lakes. Ships of this type must comply with stringent dimensional restrictions—up to 200 metres in length and approximately 24 metres in beam—to ensure they can safely transit the narrow locks of the Great Lakes waterway.

Photo: Polsteam press release