French LNG containment giant GTT has secured an order from China’s Hudong-Zhonghua for ten 271,000-cbm liquefied natural gas carriers.
GTT said in a statement that each of the very large LNG vessels will have five tanks and the tanks will be fitted with its NO96 Super+ membrane containment system.
Delivery is scheduled between the first quarter of 2030 and the fourth quarter of 2031, GTT said without providing further information.
Prior to this order, GTT said in February it has secured a contract from a Chinese shipyard for eight 271,000-cbm LNG carriers with delivery scheduled between the second quarter of 2028 and the fourth quarter of 2029.
China’s Hudong-Zhonghua is building in total 18 advanced QC-Max class LNG vessels as part of QatarEnergy’s giant shipbuilding program.
The deal is worth $6 billion or about $330 million per ship.
Each of the world’s largest LNG vessels will be 344 meters long, 53.6 meters wide, and will have a draft of 12 meters, according to Hudong-Zhonghua.
Besides GTT’s NO96 Super+ tech, the vessels feature WinGD dual-fuel propulsion, a reliquefaction system, and an air lubrication system.
Last month, state-run LNG giant QatarEnergy signed a time charter and operation agreement with compatriot shipping firm Nakilat for nine of these 271,000-cbm LNG carriers.
It also has signed long-term time charter party (TCP) agreements with three shipowners for the operation of the other nine QC-Max vessels.
The long-term TCP agreements cater for the operation of the vessels by affiliates of China Merchants Group, Shandong Marine Group, and China LNG Shipping (Holdings) Limited.
CMES will operate four vessels, Shandong Marine Energy three, and CLNG two.