China’s Dalian Shipbuilding Industry (DSIC) has officially kicked off construction of the first of eight 175,000-cbm LNG carriers for compatriot China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES), a unit of China Merchants Group.
The shipbuilder held a steel-cutting ceremony on June 1 for the LNG carrier with a working name G175K-1.
In March last year, CMES placed an order for two dual-fuel LNG carriers for $380 million, DSIC’s first order for large LNG carriers, and this vessel is part of that order.
After after, 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.
The Chinese firm placed the most recent order for two LNG carriers worth some $470 million on May 26.
According to DSIC, the LNG carriers will be 295 meters long and 46.4 meters wide, with a design draft of 11.5 meters and a speed of 19.5 knots.
The vessels feature the latest LNG dual-fuel low-speed main engine with integrated ICER system, a reliquefaction unit, and GTT’s Mark III Flex membrane containment system, it said.
CMES will take delivery of all of these LNG carriers during 2025-2027.
