The 175,000-cbm LNG carrier, Sea Spirit, owned by China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES), a unit of China Merchants Group, has completed its sea and gas trials, according to China’s Dalian Shipbuilding Industry (DSIC).
According to a statement by the shipbuilder, the LNG carrier completed its “two-in-one” trial on July 28. The trial voyage lasted 13 days.
DSIC said it will now carry out a series of finishing works in order to prepare the vessel for delivery.
This is the first of eight LNG carriers CMES ordered at DSIC. It is also the first large LNG carrier built by the Chinese shipbuilder.
DSIC launched this vessel in May last year.
The LNG carrier is 295 meters long and 46.4 meters wide, with a design draft of 11.5 meters and a speed of 19.5 knots.
It features an LNG dual-fuel low-speed main engine with an integrated ICER system, a reliquefaction unit, and GTT’s Mark III Flex membrane containment system.
In March 2022, CMES placed an order for two dual-fuel LNG carriers for $380 million, DSIC’s first order for large LNG carriers. These vessels will serve charter deals with Sinochem.
After that, CMES exercised an option for two more LNG carriers worth $400 million, and added two more vessels in December 2022 with a price tag of about $470 million. These two LNG carriers ordered in December 2022 will go on charter to PetroChina.
CMES placed the last order for two LNG carriers worth some $470 million in May 2023.
The delivery of all these LNG carriers will take place between 2025 and 2027.