Largest Single LNG Ship Order in China's Shipbuilding History Takes Effect

He Baoxin, Liu Lili

On April 28, the signing ceremony of CNOOC's medium- and long-term FOB resource supporting LNG transport project (Phase II), which has attracted much attention from the industry, was held by video link in Beijing, Tianjin,Shenzhen, Shanghai and Tokyo, Japan.CSSC Hudong Zhonghua Shipbuilding and China Shipbuilding Trading Co.,Ltd. (CSTC) as the joint seller signed the construction contract for six large 174,000 m3 LNG carriers with the buyer’s representative NYK Line.

The total value of the six LNG carriers signed into effect reached more than 8 billion yuan, breaking the record for the largest one-time contract value for Chinese shipbuilding LNG carriers of 7.5 billion yuan created by Hudong Zhonghua at the beginning of this year.

This is also the third large LNG carrier order in the first four months of this year after 6 ships in the “CNOOC medium- and long-term FOB resources supporting LNG Transport Project(Phase I)” on January 7 and four ships in the “Qatar 100 Ship Construction Plan —— North Qatar Gas Field Expansion Ship Purchase Project” on April 10.

So far, Hudong Zhonghua has undertaken a total of 17 LNG carrier orders in the first four months of this year, overtaking Korean shipbuilding enterprises to rank top in the world.Whilerealizing the “double improvement” of order taking quality and quantity, it has further consolidated the leading position and leading advantage of Hudong Zhonghua in China's LNG industry chain.

The signed ship type is based on the world's latest “Changheng Series”dual fuel propelled 174,000 m3 LNG carrier independently developed and designed by Hudong Zhonghua, tailored according to the special needs of the project, integrating the latest design concept, the best technical equipment,the strongest environmental performance and the most forward-looking.

The overall length of the ship is 299 m, with molded breadth of 46.4 m, molded depth of 26.25 m,speed of 19.5 knot, X-DF dual-fuel engine, and the latest generation of twin skeg line. Equipped with French GTT’s latest generation of NO96 Super + cargo containment system,it has the characteristics of good fast performance, light empty ship weight, low comprehensive energy consumption, wide ship-shore compatibility, good control O&M,strong adaptability of liquid cargo handling system and different routes.Compared with the previous same ship type, its loading capacity is increased by 800 m3, carbon emissions are reduce by more than 10 tons per day,EEDI meets Phase IV requirements,and energy consumption indicators,environmental protection performance and reliability have all reached the world's top level.

In December 2021, the ship received the general design approval(GDA) and pre-classification approval (PCA) from four international classification societies: ABS, BV, LR and DNV.

We learn that the project joint shipowners include China National Offshore Oil Corporation Ltd.(CNOOC),China Merchants Group Ltd. and NYK.CNOOC has long been committed to serving the national energy development strategy, promoting energy transformation and upgrading and high-quality green development,and it is the initiator, promoter and practitioner of Chinese ships entering the LNG carrier construction sector.Since 2004, CNOOC has ordered 22 LNG carriers in Hudong Zhonghua,10 of which have been completed and delivered, and it is an important strategic partner of CSSC and Hudong Zhonghua’s largest LNG carrier owner.

This is the first cooperation project on LNG carrier between Hudong Zhonghua and China Merchants Group and NYK. Hudong Zhonghua pledged to work with its partners, give play to the advantages of strong alliance, meticulously build quality LNG carriers with advanced design, safety and reliability,excellent performance, provide quality assurance for first-class equipment and the whole life cycle of the shipowners’ energy transport,and better serve the national energy development strategy.