CIMC SOE scores another LNG bunkering vessel order

CIMC SOE announced on Friday that it will construct an LNG bunkering vessel for a European owner, with the deal brokered by Dutch shipbuilder and broker Rensen-Driessen.

The shipbuilder stated that the vessel will have a capacity of 20,000 cbm, and is scheduled for delivery in September 2027.

Also, the deal includes an optional vessel with delivery scheduled in December 2027.

CIMC SOE said the European shipowner who placed this order booked a 20,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel in April this year, and this is the second order of the same vessel type within two months.

CIMC SOE did not reveal the price tag of the deal.

Brokers previously said that Belgium’s Somtrans, which owns a fleet of barges, including LNG-powered barges, ordered this LNG bunkering vessel at CIMC SOE.

RensenDriessen said in a separate statement that it was stepping into the deep-sea segment with the brokerage of two 20,000-cbm sea-going LNG tankers.

The Dutch firm stated that the dual-fuel vessels will be constructed at a selected Chinese shipyard and are expected to be delivered in 2027.

RensenDriessen said the vessels are being built for a Northern European owner focused on LNG transport and distribution.

Steel cutting for the first vessel is scheduled to take place in two weeks, with delivery expected in April 2027.

Steel cutting for the second vessel will follow in approximately four months.

Once completed, the tankers will be deployed in both Asian and European waters, RensenDriessen said.

Each vessel will measure 160 meters in length and 25 meters in width, with a designed service speed of 15.5 knots.

They will be equipped with WinGD LNG dual-fuel engines and iCER emissions reduction technology.

CIMC SOE’s growing LNG orderbook

CIMC SOE said this is its sixth order for the same type of LNG bunkering vessel.

Before these contracts, CIMC SOE clinched an order from Singapore’s Equatorial Marine Fuel Management Services to build one 20,000-cbm vessel in December last year.

This new order from EMF came just two weeks after CIMC SOE announced a contract to build up to two LNG bunkering and supply vessels for compatriot Fuzhou Wuyang Refined Oil Trading.

These LNG bunkering and supply vessels will have a capacity of 12,000 cbm.

Earlier in 2024, Geneva-based energy trader Vitol also ordered two LNG bunkering vessels from CIMC SOE.

CIMC SOE will build for Vitol’s unit Vitol International Shipping one 12,500-cbm and one 20,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel.

In addition to the order, the trader also signed a seven-year charter deal for one LNG bunkering vessel with UK-based small-scale player Avenir LNG.

CIMC SOE is also building this 20,000-cbm vessel, which will start serving Vitol in the fourth quarter of 2026.