China’s Hudong-Zhonghua expects to hand over two 79,960-cbm LNG carriers to owner K Line and charterer Petronas in May, as the shipbuilder works on restarting full operations following Covid shutdown.
China State Shipbuilding Corporation’s yards in Shanghai such as Hudong-Zhonghua and Jinagnan Shipyard have been closed for weeks, as the government had imposed strict measures and lockdowns due to a rising number of Covid cases in Shanghai.
Hudong-Zhonghua said in a statement on Monday that its Changxing base had resumed operations and the yard would now focus on delivering the two LNG carriers, namely Lagenda Suria and Legenda Serenity.
In March, Lagenda Suria completed its gas trials so this vessel is almost ready for delivery.
The Chinese shipbuilder expects its sister vessel, Legenda Serenity, to start gas trials within a week.
Hudong-Zhnongua said it plans to deliver both of these 239 meters long ABS-classed LNG carriers in May.
K-Line chartered both of the ships to Petronas for a period of 12 years.
They will transport LNG under a long-term deal the Malaysian firm signed with China’s Shenergy Group.
Furthermore, the Wuhaogou-Max (W-Max) vessels will be optimized for the delivery of LNG cargoes to Shenergy’s Wuhaogou terminal in Shanghai.
K Line also signed a shipbuilding contract with Hudong-Zhonghua for a third medium-sized LNG carrier in October last year. The LNG carrier is a sister vessel to the two ships with some minor modifications.
All of the ships feature WinGD’s dual-fuel X-DF propulsion and GTT’s NO96 L03+ containment system.