The Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd recently received an order from France's TotalEnergies for the construction of two 18,600-cubic-meter LNG bunkering vessels.
With this contract, Hudong-Zhonghua, which is a subsidiary of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation, has now received orders to build 100 liquefied natural gas bunkering vessels.
The vessels, scheduled for completion by the end of 2026, will come in at an overall length of 135.9 meters, a width of 24.5 meters and a depth of 16 meters.
The ships will be equipped with a full-rotation electric propulsion system and upgraded main engines, utilizing more efficient dual-fuel models capable of running entirely on gas under all operating conditions. The design will entail an approximate 14 percent reduction in gas consumption. Additionally, the engines will incorporate two-stage turbocharging technology, resulting in more efficient combustion and a 60 percent reduction in methane emissions.
The vessels will also incorporate an optimized high and low dual bunkering manifold platform design, enhancing compatibility with a wider range of LNG terminals and enabling refueling of very large crude carriers and other LNG-powered ships. This design greatly enhances the compatibility and economic efficiency of LNG bunkering vessels.
(Executive editor: Zhu Zeya)
