Chinese shipbuilder Hudong-Zhonghua has launched two 174,000-cbm liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.
According to a statement by Hudong-Zhonghua, the launching ceremonies for the two LNG vessels took place on October 18.
The first vessel is hull 1882A, which will be named Greenenergy Star.
Hudong-Zhonghua only said this vessel is part of the CNOOC project without providing further information.
This vessel is one of six LNG carriers being built for Japan’s MOL, COSCO Shipping unit CSLNG, and CNOOC.
Earlier this year, Hudong-Zhonghua delivered the first LNG carrier in this batch, 174,000-cbm LNG carrier, Greenergy Ocean.
Hudong-Zhonghua said this is the world’s first fifth-generation “Changheng” series LNG carrier.
The 299-meter-long vessel features GTT’s NO96 Super+ containment system and WinGD 5X72DF2.1 dual-fuel main engine.
All of the ships will serve CNOOC’s gas and power unit under long-term charter deals and are expected to be delivered by 2026.
QatarEnergy LNG carrier
Hudong-Zhonghua also launched the vessel with hull number 1798A, which will be named Al Mas’habiyyah.
This LNG carrier is part of the giant QatarEnergy shipbuilding program.
Last month, Hudong-Zhonghua delivered Rex Tillerson and Umm Ghuwailina, the first two LNG carriers built under the program.
These two vessels and Al Mas’habiyyah are part of 12 conventional-size LNG vessels contracted with Hudong-Zhonghua.
State-run LNG giant QatarEnergy signed charter deals in April 2022 for these LNG carriers with MOL, completing the first batch of charter contracts awarded under its massive shipbuilding program.
The vessels are owned by MOL and and Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation.
The LNG carriers are under long-term charter by QatarEnergy Trading, a unit of QatarEnergy.
Part of Hudong-Znoghua’s fifth-generation Changxeng series, they are 299 meters long and 46.4 meters wide.