Description

Technical Parameters

CCS FH40 Shipbuilding Steel Plate – High-Strength Marine Steel for Extreme Polar Environments

CCS FH40 is the highest-grade higher-strength hull structural steel certified by the China Classification Society (CCS). The "F" in the grade designation indicates impact testing at -60°C, the lowest impact test temperature among the higher-strength shipbuilding steel grades. "H" denotes higher-strength steel, and "40" refers to the minimum yield strength of 40 kgf/mm² (approximately 390 MPa).

FH40 is produced using killed steel practices with fine grain refinement and microalloying elements such as niobium, vanadium, and titanium to achieve the required mechanical properties. The steel is supplied in normalized, TMCP (Thermo-Mechanical Controlled Processing), or quenched and tempered condition depending on thickness and application requirements. The carbon content of FH40 is limited to 0.16% max, lower than AH40/DH40/EH40 (0.18% max), with stricter phosphorus and sulfur controls (0.025% max each).

CCS FH40 is designed for the most demanding marine environments: Arctic and polar regions where temperatures can drop below -60°C. The material offers the same 390 MPa yield strength as AH40, DH40, and EH40 but with reliable impact toughness at extreme low temperatures. FH40 steel is used in icebreakers, polar supply vessels, and ice-class ships operating in the harshest conditions on earth.

Quality Assurance | Fully Certified & Traceable

One-stop steel procurement

Certifications: We supply ABS FH40, CCS FH40, LR FH40, DNV-GL FH40, and BV FH40.

Traceability: Each plate is stamped with grade, heat number, and dimensions.

Inspection: Third-party inspections (SGS, BV) are welcome at our loading port.

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Key Specifications & Tolerances

Chemical Composition (Ladle Analysis)

Element	Composition (%)
Carbon (C)	≤ 0.16
Manganese (Mn)	0.90 – 1.60
Silicon (Si)	0.10 – 0.50
Phosphorus (P)	≤ 0.025
Sulfur (S)	≤ 0.025
Aluminum (Als)	≥ 0.015
Niobium (Nb)	0.02 – 0.05
Vanadium (V)	0.03 – 0.10
Titanium (Ti)	≤ 0.02
Copper (Cu)	≤ 0.35
Chromium (Cr)	≤ 0.20
Nickel (Ni)	≤ 0.80
Molybdenum (Mo)	≤ 0.08
Nitrogen (N)	≤ 0.009

Mechanical Properties

Property	Value
Yield Strength (min)	390 MPa (57 ksi)
Tensile Strength	510 – 650 MPa (74 – 94 ksi)
Elongation (min, on 50mm gauge)	20%
Impact Test Temperature	-60°C
Impact Energy (Longitudinal, t≤50mm)	≥ 41 J
Impact Energy (Transverse, t≤50mm)	≥ 27 J

Available Dimensions

Parameter	Range
Thickness	4mm – 400mm (up to 250mm standard, larger upon request)
Width	1200mm – 4200mm
Length	3000mm – 18000mm

Condition of Supply

Thickness	Condition
All thicknesses	Normalized (N), TMCP, or Quenched & Tempered (QT)

Applications | Where is FH40 shipbuilding Steel Used?

ship-hull-construction-keel-bilge-strakes-marine-steel

Icebreakers: Bow, stern, and ice belt plating requiring extreme low-temperature toughness.

Polar Supply Vessels: Hull structures operating in Arctic and Antarctic regions.

Arctic Offshore Platforms: Fixed and floating structures in polar waters.

Ice-Class Container Ships: Hull structures requiring reliable performance at -60°C.

offshore-platform-jack-up-rig-semi-submersible-fpso-steel-structure

marine-vessel-components-cargo-hold-hatch-cover-tanker-deck

Naval Vessels: Polar-operating military craft.

Polar Research Vessels: Scientific exploration ships in extreme cold environments.

ship-repair-retrofit-marine-hull-steel-plate-replacement

AH40, DH40, EH40, FH40 – Comparison

Feature	AH40	DH40	EH40	FH40
Yield Strength (min)	390 MPa	390 MPa	390 MPa	390 MPa
Tensile Strength	510 – 650 MPa	510 – 650 MPa	510 – 650 MPa	510 – 650 MPa
Elongation (min)	20%	20%	20%	20%
Impact Test Temperature	0°C	-20°C	-40°C	-60°C
Carbon (C) Max	0.18%	0.18%	0.18%	0.16%
Phosphorus (P) Max	0.035%	0.035%	0.035%	0.025%
Sulfur (S) Max	0.035%	0.035%	0.035%	0.025%
Nickel (Ni) Max	0.40%	0.40%	0.40%	0.80%
Typical Applications	General ship structures	Cold ocean waters	Arctic waters	Polar and extreme cold

Key Differences

FH40 has stricter chemical composition requirements compared to AH40, DH40, and EH40:

Lower carbon (0.16% vs 0.18%) for improved weldability and toughness.

Lower phosphorus and sulfur (0.025% vs 0.035%) for better cleanliness and low-temperature impact performance.

Higher nickel content (up to 0.80% vs 0.40%) for enhanced low-temperature toughness.

Quality Assurance and Certification

CCS FH40 plates can be certified by multiple international classification societies:

CCS (China Classification Society)

ABS (American Bureau of Shipping)

LR (Lloyd's Register)

DNV (Det Norske Veritas)

BV (Bureau Veritas)

NK (Nippon Kaiji Kyokai)

KR (Korean Register)

RINA (Registro Italiano Navale)

Additional Testing and Services

Thickness: 6-150mm
Width: 1500-4000mm
Length: 6000-12000mm

Ultrasonic Testing (UT): ASTM A435, A577, A578

Z-direction Testing: Z15, Z25, Z35

Charpy V-Notch Impact Test: At -60°C as standard

Third-Party Inspection: SGS, TUV, or other independent inspectors

Mill Test Certificate: EN 10204 Format 3.1/3.2

Surface Treatment: Shot blasting and painting available upon request

Packaging & Delivery

Packaging: Standard export seaworthy packing or as per customer requirements

Delivery Time: 7 days for stock items, 30–50 days for production orders

Loading Ports: Shanghai, Tianjin, Qingdao

Why Choose Our FH40 Shipbuilding Steel Plate

Direct mill sources with full traceability – all plates come with original MTC and class certificates.

Sufficient stock availability – common sizes such as 12mm, 20mm, and 30mm can be shipped same day.

Value-added processing services – cutting, beveling, drilling, and profiling available per your drawings to save onsite labor.

Experienced export team – familiar with international shipping procedures, offering seaworthy packing and global delivery.

Low MOQ accepted – trial orders welcome for R&D and maintenance projects.

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User Evaluation

We used CCS FH40 for the ice belt plating of a new Arctic-class icebreaker. The -60°C impact tests exceeded requirements. Fabrication in winter conditions required careful heat management, but the results were excellent. The normalized plates arrived flat and within tolerance.

Mr. Chen Wei

Singapore · Large Shipbuilding and Repairing Group

For a polar research vessel project, FH40 delivered comparable quality to European equivalents at better pricing. The chemical composition was consistent across 800 tons of plates. Third-party inspectors approved all certifications without issue.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong

Haiphong · Shipbuilding Group of Vietnam

We've ordered CCS FH40 for three polar supply vessels. The material holds up well in extreme cold. The lower carbon content made welding more forgiving than expected for a high-strength grade. We will continue using this supplier.

Mr. Rajesh Kumar

Kochi, India · Ship Repair Yard

FAQ

01.What does "FH40" stand for in shipbuilding steel?

The "F" indicates impact testing at -60°C. "H" stands for higher-strength steel. "40" refers to the minimum yield strength of 40 kgf/mm², approximately 390 MPa in metric units.

02.What is the difference between FH40 and EH40?

Both have the same minimum yield strength (390 MPa) and tensile strength (510 – 650 MPa). The difference is the impact test temperature: EH40 is tested at -40°C, while FH40 is tested at -60°C. FH40 also has stricter chemical composition requirements: lower carbon (0.16% vs 0.18%), lower phosphorus and sulfur (0.025% vs 0.035%), and higher nickel (0.80% vs 0.40%). FH40 is required for polar icebreakers and vessels operating in Arctic winter conditions.

03.What heat treatment is required for CCS FH40 plates?

FH40 plates must be supplied in normalized, TMCP, or quenched and tempered condition depending on thickness. Classification rules require full killed and fine-grain treatment . Unlike lower grades, FH40 cannot be supplied in as-rolled condition for any thickness because the -60°C impact requirement demands controlled processing.

04.What preheating is required for welding CCS FH40?

FH40 has a higher carbon equivalent (0.40% max for t≤50mm, 0.42% for 50

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