China’s Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding has started building the second LNG bunkering vessel owned by Japan’s MOL and chartered by Total of France.
The Chinese shipyard delivered MOL’s first LNG bunkering ship, the world’s largest such vessel, on Thursday.
Both of the vessels will have a capacity of 18,600 cubic meters with a length of about 135 meters.
They feature the Mark III Flex membrane containment system provided by French company GTT.
Hudong-Zhonghua says that it will upgrade the performance of the second vessel compared to its sister ship.
The LNG-powered vessel will have a 25 percent higher loading rate and it would need less time to complete a single bunkering operation, according to the Chinese shipyard.
This vessel will supply LNG bunker in the Mediterranean area to a wide range of vessels. These include containerships, tankers, ferries and large cruise ships.
Hudong expects to deliver the LNG bunkering ship in the second part of 2021.
Following delivery, the vessel will be stationed in the Marseille-Fos area in France.