China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES) said it plans to order two LNG carriers at CSSC’s Dalian Shipbuilding Industry worth up to $380 million.
In that regard, CMES and CSSC signed a letter of intent on Friday for the construction of the 175,000-cbm LNG carriers, according to a statement by CMES, a unit of China Merchants Group.
DSIC would build both of the LNG carriers.
The LNG tankers would feature GTT’s Mark III membrane system and LNG dual-fuel propulsion, CMES said.
Also, the letter of intent is valid for six months and the two firms would now work on the details of the project and the signing of the binding shipbuilding agreement, it said.
CMES added that it plans to further strengthen cooperation in LNG ship investment and operation with CSSC.
It did not provide any additional information.
The Chinese firm owns a large fleet of vessels including very large crude carriers, very large ore carriers, and ro-ro vessels.
It has also a 50 percent stake in China LNG Shipping, the country’s first LNG shipping company. COSCO Shipping Energy Transportation holds the other 50 percent.