Chinese shipbuilder Hudong-Zhonghua will build two more liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers for compatriot Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation and PetroChina.
Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation said in an announcement that its board of directors has approved the construction of two 174,000-cbm LNG carriers and the formation of two vessel owning companies based in Hong Kong.
United Liquefied Gas Shipping, a joint venture majority-owned by Cosco Shipping Energy and partner PetroChina will own these two LNG carriers, such as the previous six vessels that were ordered at Hudong-Zhonghua.
Both of the vessels will also go on long-term charter to PetroChina and will be built by a CSSC yard.
Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation did not provide any additional information regarding the vessels.
Shipbuilding sources told LNG Prime that Hudong-Zhonghua will build these vessels and deliver them in 2025 and 2026.
These are very early slots and Cosco Shipping Energy and PetroChina will have to pay more for these vessels.
The vessels are each worth about $245 million, the highest price in China for a single 174,000-cbm LNG carrier, the sources said.
Also, the vessels will have WinGD X-DF dual-fuel engines and GTT’s NO96 L03+ containment system, such as the previous ships, according to the sources.
Hudong-Zhonghua delivered the first and the second LNG carrier under the PCI project, Shaolin and Wu Dang, last year, and the third carrier, Kun Lun, in March this year.
The shipbuilder recently launched the fourth LNG carrier as well.
All of these six LNG vessels feature WinGD X-DF dual-fuel engines and GTT’s NO96 L03+ containment system.
These 295 meters long ships each have a price tag of about $185 million and will serve PetroChina under charter contracts.