6,500 TEU Container Ship — 36 Watertight & Fire-Rated Door Package
Table of Contents
Project Overview
A European shipowner contracted Hicool to supply a complete door package for a 6,500 TEU container vessel under construction at a major Chinese shipyard. The package included 18 watertight sliding doors for below-deck compartments and 18 A60 fire-rated hinged doors for the accommodation block — all requiring Bureau Veritas (BV) type approval.
The Challenge
The original door supplier experienced production delays, threatening the vessel delivery schedule. The shipyard needed a replacement supplier who could deliver BV-certified doors within 45 days — roughly half the normal lead time. Additionally, the A60 fire doors required specific insulation thickness per SOLAS Ch. II-2 Reg. 9 and IMO FTP Code compliance.
Our Solution
We activated our network of 3 certified door manufacturers in Jiangsu and Zhejiang to split the order. Watertight doors were produced at a CCS/BV dual-certified factory in Taixing, while fire doors came from a specialist fire protection equipment maker in Nanjing.
Door Package
- Watertight Doors18 × Hydraulic Sliding (Class B)
- Fire Doors18 × A60 Hinged Steel
- MaterialMarine-grade steel, PCD32
- Insulation100mm mineral wool (A60 rated)
- TestingHydrostatic + BV witness
- Total Weight12.8 tonnes
Results
- Delivered in 42 days — 3 days ahead of schedule
- 100% BV pass rate on first inspection
- Split manufacturing strategy reduced single-factory bottleneck risk
- Saved USD 85,000 vs. Korean door supplier quotation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between A60 and A0 fire doors?
A60 doors must prevent temperature rise beyond 180°C on the unexposed side for 60 minutes. A0 doors only need to be non-combustible with no specific insulation requirement. A60 is required for engine room boundaries and accommodation areas per SOLAS.
Can one factory produce both watertight and fire doors?
Technically yes, but few factories hold both approvals. We recommend split sourcing for quality — watertight door specialists focus on hydraulic mechanisms and pressure testing, while fire door makers specialize in insulation and FTP compliance.
Qiangbin Zhu
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