China’s Dalian Shipbuilding (DSIC) said the world’s first LNG-powered very large crude carrier has completed its sea trials.
DSIC is building the 332.6 meters long Yuan Rui Yang for Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation, a unit of Cosco.
The shipbuilder said in a statement the VLCC had successfully completed its trials on Saturday after it left the yard in Dalian on September 3.
With a deadweight of about 319,000 tons, the LNG-powered vessel features WinGD’s dual-fuel propulsion. It also has two 3500-cbm LNG storage tanks, according to DSIC.
The vessel classed by CCS will later this year head out for gas trials. DSIC should deliver the ship to Cosco Shipping by the end of this year.
To remind, Cosco Shipping’s initial order at DSIC included four 319,000-dwt VLLCs but it amended the contract to add LNG power to one of the ships in December 2019. The firm said then the upgrade would cost an additional $6 million.