On 29^th March, China Shipbuilding Trading Co. Ltd. (CSTC) and Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard (HZ), both subsidiaries of China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited. (CSSC), signed a construction contract for 1 + 1 79,900 m³ LNG carrier with Shenzhen Gas Group in Shenzhen. Mr. Guo Jiajing, Vice President of Shenzhen Gas Group, Mr. Chi benbin, Vice President of Hudong Zhonghua, and Mr.Wu Aijun, Vice President of CSTC, signed the construction contract on behalf of respective parties. Mr. Zhang Xiaodong, President of Shenzhen Gas, Mr. Chen Jun, President of Hudong-Zhonghua and relevant leaders also attended and witnessed the signing ceremony.

The LNG carrier is designed for the river and sea intermodal, with a total length of 239m, a breadth moulded of 36.6m, with tank type of GTT No. 96 L03 +, and an efficient low-speed dual fuel diesel direct propulsion system. It is the world's largest fourth generation LNG ship capable to work in shallow water channel. This type of ship has three major characteristics:

1. Shallow draft and excellent channel adaptability.

2. Strong handling capacity of loading and unloading which can realize the berthing and disembarking at LNG terminal within one working day;

3. Highly flexible transfer compatibility, enabling liquid cargo transfer among a wide range of ships from 30000 m³ small LNG carriers to 174,000 m³ large LNG carriers, and providing customers with diversified liquid cargo transportation and distribution schemes.

This is the second time that CSTC and Hudong Zhonghua successfully won the order for medium-sized LNG carriers, after Japanese owner “K”line’s order of two 79,900 cubic meters medium-sized LNG ships for Malaysian LNG project in 2020.  CSTC and Hudong-Zhonghua marketing team proactively visited and understood the needs of urban gas companies, and worked closely to solve relevant business and technical problems. Through unremitting efforts and sincere cooperation from all parties, signing of this contract finally achieved.

This cooperation is of great significance. It has practiced the CSSC business strategy of "Proactively Expending the Access to end customers", made positive contributions to the national clean energy strategy. It is also a positive response to the national strategy of establishing a “dual circulation” development pattern, hands in hands with Shenzhen Gas.

Written by Pang Da