China’s Hudong-Zhonghua has started building the recently ordered 79,960-cbm LNG carrier for compatriot Shenzhen Gas.
To mark the start of construction, the Chinese shipbuilder held a steel cutting ceremony on Wednesday.
The duo signed the contract on March 29 and it also includes an option for one more sister vessel.
This move marks the first entry into the LNG shipping business for Shenzen Gas.
Shenzhen Gas previously said it would pay about $121 million for the mid-scale vessel, while the total costs of the project would reach about $140 million. The city gas supplier also aims to establish a unit that will own the ship.
The new vessel will serve its facility at Yantian port in the city of Shenzhen with an annual capacity of 800,000 tonnes, according to Shenzhen Gas. The facility has one LNG jetty and an 80,000 cbm storage tank.
In addition, the 239 meters long river-sea vessel will feature dual-fuel propulsion and GTT’s NO96 L03+ membrane containment system.
The vessel should join Shenzhen Gas in January 2023.