Delivery of the order for the 30-ton seawater flake ice machine marine project: ICEMA carries out phased implementation of six large-scale units

Shanghai Icema Refrigeration Technology Co., Ltd. is producing six 30-ton seawater flake ice machines for a large ocean-going fishing vessel project.

The project involves natural seawater ice production, marine corrosion protection, electrical protection, engine-room installation and coordination with shipyard construction milestones.

ICEMA’s sales, technical, production and assembly teams are working together on the project. The first three machines have completed manufacturing and entered the second round of factory testing.

Customer Project Requirements

Centralized Ice Equipment for a Large Vessel Project

The customer is a well-known marine equipment contractor in Jiangsu, China, responsible for coordinating equipment and systems for the vessel project.

The customer purchased six 30-ton seawater flake ice machines for centralized installation within one large ocean-going fishing project.

The machines will use natural seawater directly to produce ice for onboard catch cooling, seafood preservation and cold-chain operations.

Unlike a standard single-machine order, this project requires the configurations, installation interfaces, materials and delivery schedules of all six machines to be managed under the same technical requirements.

Multiple Requirements Beyond Ice Capacity

In addition to ice production capacity, the customer placed particular importance on:

▪ Corrosion resistance under long-term seawater conditions 

▪ Marine motor, cable, and electrical control protection requirements;

▪ Equipment dimensions, lifting conditions, and piping connections;

▪ Operational noise and vibration inside the vessel;

▪ Delivery schedule aligned with vessel schedules, construction milestones, and acceptance milestones.

These requirements needed to be addressed during the design stage rather than through modifications after the machines had already been completed.

Marine Conditions and Project Constraints

Operating in Seawater, Salt Mist and Vibration

Natural seawater requires stronger corrosion protection than freshwater, while vessel operation introduces continuous vibration and humid, salt-laden conditions.

The project solution therefore considers seawater-contact materials, machine-frame protection, motor enclosure ratings, pipe support and marine cable requirements.

The main seawater-contact components of the evaporator are made of SUS316L stainless steel. The condenser uses titanium heat-exchange tubes and 2205 duplex stainless-steel end covers.

The machine frame is hot-dip galvanized to provide heavy-duty protection against corrosion and salt mist.

Shipyard Progress Determines the Delivery Schedule

The vessels are still under construction, and engine-room foundations, piping and related installation work are being completed in stages.

Delivering all six machines at the same time could result in insufficient installation space, long-term storage or lifting conditions that are not yet ready.

The project therefore uses a “three plus three” delivery plan. This allows machine production and testing to remain aligned with shipyard construction progress.

Project Solution

Develop a plan based on experience from large-scale flake ice machine projects.

ICEMA has previously completed large flake ice machine projects, including 30-ton systems using parallel compressors.

This experience provides a foundation for large-machine structural design, refrigeration piping assembly and system commissioning

The current project adds further requirements related to natural seawater, marine-grade materials, noise control and engine-room installation interfaces.

Each machine uses two parallel 15-ton evaporators together with a marine Hanbell compressor, seawater condenser, marine motors and a dedicated control system.

The final solution considers the entire refrigeration system rather than selecting the compressor or evaporator as separate components.

Coordination Between Multiple Departments

Several departments are involved in the project.
The sales team confirms customer requirements, delivery milestones and shipyard progress. The technical team manages system design, installation interfaces and material selection.

The production team is responsible for manufacturing the large machine frames and refrigeration units, while the assembly team handles component installation, pipeline connections and preparation for factory testing.

The purpose of this coordination is to convert the customer’s marine requirements into clear drawings, component lists and production instructions.

For example, when a piping direction or equipment interface needs to be changed, the technical team first confirms the revision before it is passed to purchasing, production and assembly.

This helps prevent different machines within the same project from being manufactured according to different versions.

Standardized Configuration Across All Six Machines

The project order specifies the compressors, evaporators, expansion valves, controllers, electrical components and construction materials used for the machines.

Any proposed replacement of a major component must be confirmed with the customer before implementation.

This configuration-control process helps maintain consistency in materials, components and control logic across all six machines.

It also makes future installation, commissioning, operation and spare-parts management more straightforward.

Production Testing and Delivery Arrangements

Manufacturing of the First Batch Completed

The first three machines have completed production and assembly and are now undergoing a second round of factory testing.

The test program includes:

▪ Complete machine trial operation 

▪ Flake ice production testing 

▪ Refrigeration-system pressure and tightness testing 

▪ Electrical control and safety-protection testing 

The testing process does more than confirm that the machines can start. It also checks the operation of the main components, control protection, ice production process and system connections.

The customer has also carried out a factory inspection. Production, assembly, testing and inspection photographs have been retained as part of the project documentation.

Delivery Coordinated with Shipyard Readiness

The first three machines will be delivered after the second round of testing and once the shipyard confirms that installation conditions are ready.

The second batch of three machines will continue through production and testing according to the vessel construction schedule.

This delivery method supports the overall project timeline while avoiding the risks associated with delivering equipment too early.

ICEMA can also provide remote technical support, onsite installation and commissioning services.

When onsite engineer support is required, travel, accommodation and related service costs are arranged according to the project agreement confirmed by both parties.

Project Value

This project demonstrates more than the ability to manufacture six large flake ice machines.

It also requires the coordination and delivery capabilities needed for a large marine project involving seawater corrosion, restricted engine-room space, noise, vibration and phased shipyard construction.

The project team has converted the customer’s operating requirements into material selection, machine layout, production planning and factory testing procedures.

ICEMA has the production and testing capability required for large flake ice machine systems and applies CE- and ISO-related quality management requirements to its manufacturing activities.

Through cooperation between the sales, technical, production and assembly teams, the project can progress in line with the shipyard’s construction schedule and provide a practical foundation for later installation and onsite commissioning.