Hudong-Zhonghua launches two LNG carriers

Chinese shipbuilder Hudong-Zhonghua has on Sunday launched two liquefied natural gas carriers as it looks to deliver in total eight LNG vessels this year.

The shipbuilder said in a statement that it is for the first time building four large LNG carriers at the same time at the No. 2 dock of the Changxing shipbuilding base, with two of these LNG carriers floated and two of them were half-floated on the same day.

Hudong-Zhonghua said this is part of the shipbuilder’s plans to double LNG carrier production capacity.

It is currently building 16 LNG carriers. The shipbuilder plans to launch 11 ships and to complete 8 ships this year, marking a new record for the annual completion and delivery of LNG carriers in China, it said.

Last year, Hudong-Zhonghua delivered record six LNG carriers.

Hudong-Zhonghua said that it currently has more than 50 LNG carriers on order, including more than 30 fifth-generation vessels, with delivery dates stretching until 2028.

Hudong-Zhonghua launches two LNG carriers
Image: Hudong-Zhonghua

MOL and Cosco

The shipbuilder did not provide much information on the launched LNG vessels.

Their hull names are H1792A and H1836A.

In October last year, Hudong held keel-laying ceremonies for these two LNG carriers it is building for Japan’s MOL and China’s Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation.

The LNG carrier with a hull number H1792A is the third vessel being built for MOL and Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation.

In April 2022, state-run LNG giant QatarEnergy signed charter deals for four LNG carriers with MOL, completing the first batch of charter contracts awarded under its massive shipbuilding program.

Also, the four vessels, part of Hudong-Zhonghua’s fifth-generation Changxeng series, are 299 meters long and 46.4 meters wide.

Image: Hudong-Zhonghua

As per the LNG carrier with a hull number H1836A, this is the sixth LNG carrier Hudong-Zhonghua is building for Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation and PetroChina.

All of the LNG vessels feature WinGD X-DF dual-fuel engines and also GTT’s NO96 L03+ containment system.

The 295 meters long ships will serve PetroChina under charter contracts.

Most Popular

Shell adds another LNG carrier to its fleet

A unit of UK-based LNG giant Shell has added another chartered liquefied natural gas carrier to its fleet.

Hanwha Engine completes first X-DF engine with VCR tech

South Korea's Hanwha Engine, a subsidiary of Hanwha, has completed what it claims is the world's first WinGD X-DF engine equipped with VCR (variable compression ratio) technology for LNG carriers.

Chevron, China’s ENN seal second LNG SPA

US energy giant Chevron has signed a second LNG sales and purchase agreement with Chinese independent gas distributor ENN.

More News Like This

CMA CGM’s LNG-powered giant floated out in China

China’s Hudong-Zhonghua has launched the third in a new series of 24,000-teu LNG dual-fuel containerships for French shipping giant CMA CGM.

Cosco Shipping Development, MOL seal sale and leaseback deal for LNG carrier

Cosco Shipping Development, a unit of Cosco Shipping, has entered into a sale and leaseback agreement with a unit of Japan's MOL for one 271,000-cbm LNG carrier.

Another QatarEnergy LNG carrier named in China

Chinese shipbuilder Hudong-Zhonghua hosted a naming ceremony for another LNG carrier built under the massive QatarEnergy shipbuilding program.

QatarEnergy LNG tanker wraps up trials in China

A 174,000-cbm LNG carrier built as part of the massive QatarEnergy shipbuilding program has completed its trials in China, according to Hudong-Zhonghua.