China’s Jiangnan Shipyard has started building a 79,800 cbm LNG carrier for compatriot energy firm Jovo.
To mark the construction start, the state-owned yard in Shanghai held a steel-cutting ceremony on December 28, it said in a statement.
The vessel will have dual-fuel engines and GTT’s Mark III Flex containment system.
According to Jiangnan, this would be the first LNG carrier built in China to have the Mark III technology.
In addition, Jiangnan is entering the mid-scale LNG carrier market with this project as it also looks to build its first large LNG vessel.
The yard has recently signed a letter of intent with CSSC Shipping, the financial leasing unit of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, to build up to two large LNG vessels.
As per the mid-scale LNG carrier, Jovo revealed this order in August. The independent firm said in a separate statement it would name the vessel Mulan Spirit.
Under its shipbuilding plan, Jovo also ordered one 93,000 cbm very large gas carrier (VLGC) at Jiangnan.
Jovo expects the entire project to complete in the first quarter of 2024.