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Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2026-03-31 Origin: Site
On March 6, the Shanghai branch of China Classification Society (CCS) granted Baosteel Co., Ltd. of China Baowu the Type Approval Certificate for high‑strength steel plates used in polar ships. This milestone makes Baosteel the first enterprise in China to obtain such certification for polar‑grade high‑strength steel plates from CCS.
Supported by years of technical research and development, Baosteel has successfully broken through key technical challenges, including the control of low‑temperature toughness and crack‑arresting properties in the center of extra‑thick high‑strength plates under extremely cold conditions. Through comprehensive innovations from chemical composition design to full‑process manufacturing, the R&D team completed multiple rounds of trial production and rigorous certification testing. The steel fully meets performance requirements for both base metal and welded joints at an ultra‑low temperature of -60°C, establishing a complete R&D and manufacturing capacity for a full series of polar steels and filling the domestic gap in homegrown high‑strength polar steel.
Against the backdrop of global warming, the Arctic shipping lane shortens the voyage by roughly 40% compared with traditional Europe‑Asia routes, raising the strategic importance of the Polar Silk Road. Polar development and maritime transport are becoming a new growth engine for the global marine economy.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code) has been in mandatory effect since 2017. Polar steel certification has become a prerequisite for access to the supply chain of polar shipbuilding and polar resource development equipment.
In 2018, China issued the white paper China’s Arctic Policy, calling for joint efforts to build the Polar Silk Road with partners worldwide. Independent and controllable supply of polar‑grade materials has thus become a core mission underpinning national strategies.
