Dalian Shipbuilding Industry (DSIC) has received an approval in principle from China Classification Society for the design of a 175,000 cu m LNG carrier based on Mark III Flex technology during Marinetec China in Shanghai this week.
China’s largest state-owned yards CSSC and CSIC are currently in the middle of a merger and the new super group aims to further develop its capability in the construction of high-value ship types including large LNG carriers as one of its key priorities.
DSIC started a research and development program for the construction of large-scale LNG carriers earlier this year. The shipyard is now building a 8,500 cu m LNG bunkering vessel, equipped with type-C tankers and a dual fuel engine, for ENN Energy with delivery scheduled in 2020.
Hudong Zhonghua Shipbuilding is so far the only shipyard in China that has experience in the construction of large scale LNG carriers having delivered the first ever Chinese-built LNG carrier, the 147,000 cu m Dapeng Sun in 2008. Its sister yard Jiangnan Shipyard has been making large efforts in the LNG sector, having secured an AIP for a 175,000 cu m Mark III Flex LNG carrier last year.
Earlier this year, a consortium of Chinese companies led by Cosco and classification society Lloyd’s Register signed a memorandum of agreement to jointly develop a design for a 220,000 cu m LNG carrier with GTT Mark III membrane containment system.
During Marintec, DSIC also secured a AIP from Lloyd’s Register (LR) for an ammonia-fuelled 23,000 teu ultra-large container ship (ULCS) concept design, the first ammonia as fuel design of its kind in China.
