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 December 23.
Both vessels are part of Hudong-Zhonghua’s fifth-generation “Changheng” series.
The first vessel is hull 1799A.
Hudong-Zhonghua only mentioned that China LNG Shipping (CLNG), a joint venture of Cosco Shipping and China Merchants, is a part of the consortium that owns the vessel.
VesselsValue data shows a consortium consisting of Japan’s NYK, K Line, Malaysia’s MISC, and CLNG ordered this LNG carrier and four more vessels in 2022.
These LNG carriers are being built for state-owned LNG giant QatarEnergy under its massive shipbuilding program.
Besides this LNG carrier, Hudong-Zhonghua also launched the vessel with hull number 1909A.
This LNG carrier is owned by United Liquefied Gas Shipping, a joint venture in which Cosco Shipping has an 81 percent stake and partner PetroChina holds the rest.
In July last year, the JV ordered this 174,000-cbm LNG carrier and a sister ship at Hudong-Zhonghua as part of the third stage of the Cosco Shipping-PetroChina project.
Following delivery in 2025 and 2026, both of the vessels will go on long-term charter to PetroChina.
This year, Hudong-Zhonghua broke a new record in the Chinese LNG shipbuilding industry.
Hudong-Zhonghua recently delivered its eighth large LNG carrier this year, as it works to double its LNG shipbuilding capacity.
Last year, Hudong-Zhonghua delivered a record six LNG carriers.
