Chinese shipbuilder Hudong-Zhonghua is in talks to build several new 174,000-cbm LNG carriers.
Shipbuilding sources tell LNG Prime the yard is expected to secure orders to build up to five vessels that would transport LNG for state-owned energy giant CNOOC from projects in North America to China.
The owners competing in the project include MOL, Cosco Shipping, NYK, K Line, and Teekay, according to the sources.
Also, the price tag for each vessel could reach about $195 million.
The sources did not reveal any further information as the talks are still ongoing.
Hudong won last month an order for one LNG carrier from CSSC Shipping, the financial leasing unit of China State Shipbuilding Corporation. CSSC is also the parent company of Hudong.
This contract came just two weeks after Chinese shipowner COSCO and energy giant CNPC have confirmed plans to order three additional LNG carriers at Hudong.
In addition, Hudong also secured a contract from Shenzen Gas earlier this year for one medium-sized LNG carrier which would serve the latter’s facility at Yantian port in the city of Shenzhen.
All of these carriers will feature WinGD’s X-DF dual-fuel engines and GTT’s containment system.