Shanghai: British classification society Lloyd’s Register (LR) has signed the classification contract for six 174,000 cu m liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers to be built by Hudong Zhonghua Shipbuilding, breaking the Chinese class LNG stranglehold previously held by ABS and China Classification Society.
When delivered, the ships will load LNG in Gladstone, Australia for a number of Chinese import terminals – Qingdao, Beihai, Tianjin, Lianyungang and Wenzhou.
Steel cutting on the first ship will be in January 2014. The final ship will be delivered in the fourth quarter, 2017.
The ships will be fitted with medium speed MAN B&W dual fuel diesel engine (DFDE). The LNG containment systems will be the NO96 type.
Construction will take place near Shanghai at the Jiangnan Changxing Production Line No.1, now the responsibility of Hudong, following parent group China State Shipbuilding Corporation’s (CSSC) re-organisation of production facilities.
Nick Brown, area general manager and marine manager, Greater China, said: "This is a big project and a big win for LR. We are very pleased to be supporting this important project. Importation of LNG is of strategic and long term importance for China and we welcome this opportunity to provide our expertise."
On delivery the new LNG carrier orders, owned by Sinopec, China Shipping and Mitsui OSK Lines, will be dual classed by both LR and China Classification Society (CCS) and will sail under the Hong Kong flag. [28/06/13]
