China’s Dalian Shipbuilding (DSIC) said the world’s first LNG-powered very large crude carrier has completed its gas trials.
DSIC built the 332.6 meters long Yuan Rui Yang for Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation, a unit of Cosco.
Prior to completing the gas trials, the vessel’s two 3500-cbm type C storage tanks received LNG via a truck-to-ship bunkering operation in November. Also, the vessel completed its sea trials in September.
In a statement released on Tuesday, DSIC did not provide any information on when the shipbuilder controlled by CSSC expects to deliver the vessel to Cosco Shipping.
With a deadweight of about 319,000 tons, the LNG-powered vessel features WinGD’s dual-fuel propulsion.
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.