China’s Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding has achieved a significant milestone by delivering the third LNG carrier to CSSC Shipping, the financial leasing entity of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). This accomplishment also places them on track to establish a new record for annual LNG carrier deliveries.
The LNG carrier, named Wen Cheng, boasts a substantial capacity of 174,000 cubic meters. Surprisingly, the vessel was handed over to CSSC three and a half months ahead of the initially contracted delivery date, which was originally slated for the first quarter of 2024.
Wen Cheng, which successfully completed its gas trials in August, is an imposing vessel with a length of 295 meters, a width of 45 meters, and a depth of 26.25 meters.
This remarkable delivery marks the third of four LNG carriers ordered by CSSC Shipping from Hudong Zhonghua. The first two vessels, MU LAN and Guiying, have already been delivered, and the fourth vessel saw its launch earlier this year.
All of these ships are part of Hudong-Zhonghua’s fourth-generation LNG ship type X-DF series. They are equipped with dual-fuel low-speed diesel engines and feature environmental protection selective catalytic reduction (SCR) devices.
Hudong-Zhonghua also highlighted that Wen Cheng is the fourth LNG carrier the company has successfully delivered in 2023. Furthermore, the shipbuilder has plans to deliver two more by the year’s end, a feat that is anticipated to establish a new record of six ships delivered in a single year.
Currently, Hudong-Zhonghua has twelve LNG ships under construction and remains committed to accelerating construction speed to achieve its goal of doubling the production capacity of LNG carriers.
