Recently, the S Hudong Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, in collaboration with China Shipbuilding Industry Trading Co., Ltd., and Malaysian MISC Berhad officially signed a construction contract for a 18,700 cubic meter liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier.
This is a new chapter in the cooperation between the relevant parties in the field of new ship types following the signing of an order for 5+5 large LNG carriers at the beginning of this year. It is also the first time that Hudong Zhonghua has received an order for a film-type LNG carrier of this size, further expanding the company's LNG ship product range and enabling the company to respond to the diverse needs of global customers with a more complete product lineup.
This 18,700-cubic-meter LNG carrier is China's first small-sized LNG carrier to adopt the film-type enclosure system technology. It features a compact layout, high energy efficiency, high flexibility in ship-to-shore compatibility, and excellent low-temperature insulation performance. The total length of this type of ship is 129.8 meters, the width is 25.4 meters, the depth is 16 meters, the designed draft is 6.5 meters, and the main design dimensions of the ship are compact and exquisite. It is suitable for small-sized LNG terminals under environmental restrictions such as ship size and shallow draft, and can reach global major small-sized coastal terminals and be compatible with inland river shipping, with the function of intermodal transportation between rivers and seas.
This type of vessel adopts the mature double-screw propulsion system of large LNG carriers. The designed speed reaches 15 knots, featuring excellent speed and maneuverability, high propulsion efficiency, and can effectively improve the propulsion power by approximately 20% compared to single-screw propulsion; it is equipped with a dual-fuel electric propulsion system, enabling gas mode operation in all operating conditions and meeting the international maritime organization (IMO) TIER III environmental protection standards; it is equipped with a film-type enclosure system, with an LNG cargo capacity of 18,700 cubic meters, and the daily evaporation rate is only 0.24%, matching the fuel requirements of the ship's navigation and having excellent operational economy.
MISC Berhad is a subsidiary of the Malaysian National Oil Corporation and operates a diverse fleet of high-end equipment including LNG carriers and oil tankers. Its business reaches across major energy trading routes worldwide. The LNG carrier fleet of MISC Berhad is the largest in the world in terms of scale and operational capacity. This time, it awarded another order to Hudong Zhonghua, based on the deep mutual trust established through long-term cooperation, reflecting MISC Berhad's continued recognition of Hudong Zhonghua's LNG equipment design and construction capabilities, and demonstrating that the cooperation between the two parties is moving from a single ship type to broader fields and deeper levels.
As a pioneer in the field of LNG carriers in China, Hudong Zhonghua, relying on modern intelligent factories and lean management systems, has maintained a leading position in large-scale construction capabilities and has delivered 64 LNG carriers, leading the industry. Currently, the company has abundant orders on hand and production plans have been scheduled until after 2030. In the future, the company will continue to work with global partners, using its own technologies and excellent quality to serve the global clean energy transportation landscape, fulfilling the mission of being a maritime power.