China delivered its first domestically developed new large liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier to an international customer in Shanghai on Monday, marking a significant advancement in the country's shipbuilding industry.
This vessel, featuring cutting-edge cargo containment systems, fills a crucial gap in China's shipbuilding capabilities in this domain.
Constructed by the Jiangnan Shipyard (Group) Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, the vessel utilizes the latest third-generation membrane containment system for storing liquefied natural gas.
This technology reduces the insulation and shielding layer thickness from 530mm to 400mm, allowing for increased cargo capacity compared to the previous models. The new design also minimizes cargo evaporation during transport, enhancing safety and promoting energy efficiency, meeting international standards. "This vessel epitomizes the internationally prevalent membrane-type LNG cargo hold structure, divided into four compartments capable of meeting a city's one-month LNG demand in a single trip. Given the stringent safety requirements for LNG transport, the ship is equipped with over 10,000 alarm points and is designed for a lifespan of 40 years," said Song Bowen, the chief construction engineer for the LNG carrier at Jiangnan Shipyard.
The delivery marks a breakthrough for China, breaking the previous dominance of foreign shipyards in the construction of this type of LNG carrier. It also enhances China's position in the high-tech, high-value shipbuilding sector.
"With this vessel, China has achieved a zero breakthrough in this field. The successful construction of this LNG carrier will facilitate closer cooperation in energy transportation and marine equipment. Currently, we have a total of eight orders for this model, and we plan to progressively optimize and iterate on the product to introduce more efficient and leading-edge vessels," said Song.
China's first self-developed new large-scale LNG carrier delivered in Shanghai
China's first self-developed new large-scale LNG carrier delivered in Shanghai
