On October 15, the first vessel of the 174,000 m3 large LNG carrier built by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding for Mitsui O.S.K. and COSCO Shipping Energy Transportation and the No. 5 vessel of the 174,000 m3 large LNG carrier built for COSCO Shipping PetroChina were successfully launched from the No. 2 dock of Hudong-Zhonghua’s Changxing Factory Docking. Meanwhile, another large LNG carrier and a 15,500 TEU large container ship have been half-floated in No.2 dock.
This is the first time in Hudong-Zhonghua’s history that two large LNG carriers were launched on the same day in the same dock, and it is also the first time that three large LNG carriers were constructed in one dock together, which marks the full speed up of Hudong-Zhonghua’s strategy of doubling its LNG production capacity.
The first vessel for Mitsui O.S.K. and COSCO Shipping Energy Transportation is the fifth generation of Hudong-Zhonghua’s “Changheng Series” 174,000 m3 LNG carriers, which is independently researched and designed by Hudong-Zhonghua. It integrates the latest design concepts of the industry, excellent hydrodynamic characteristics and outstanding versatility.
With an overall length of 299 meters, a beam of 46.4 meters and a depth of 26.25 meters, the vessel is equipped with the latest-generation double stern-fin line type and carries a number of low-carbon and digital technologies, featuring such highlights as good fast performance, low navigational emissions, high degree of sophistication, global versatility, light empty vessel weight, high cargo carrying capacity and light empty vessel weight, high cargo carrying capacity etc.
COSCO Shipping PetroChina National Project No. 5 is the sister ship of the previously completed and delivered “Shaolin”, “Wudang” and “Kunlun” series of vessels. The ship has a length of 295 meters, a beam of 45 meters, a depth of 26.25 meters, a speed of 19.5 knots, and its technical performance, environmental protection requirements and reliability requirements have reached the international top level, with a daily fuel consumption of less than one hundred tons, which meets the most stringent emission standards of the IMO. Meanwhile, the No.4 vessel of this series is scheduled to be named and delivered within the year.
It is learned that since October, Hudong-Zhonghua’s LNG construction speed accelerated significantly, has completed the delivery of one ship, two ships out of the dock, two ships to start, on October 18th there will be two ships into the dock. Presently, there are 12 LNG vessels under construction, 4 vessels have been delivered this year, and 2 more are planned to be delivered by the end of this year, which is expected to create a new record of delivering 6 vessels in the whole year.