THE construction of Shenzhen Gas Co. Ltd.’s (SZ Gas) first LNG (liquefied natural gas) carrier kicks off Wednesday in a shipyard of Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co. Ltd. (Hudong-Zhonghua), Shanghai, Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported.

Representatives and guests from SZ Gas, China Shipbuilding Trading Co. Ltd., Hudong-Zhonghua, and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd. (“K” Line) attended the ceremony.

As the first LNG carrier ever owned by a Shenzhen's State-owned enterprise, the vessel is expected to alleviate the shortage of shipping capacity for the city's natural gas storage and peak-shaving facility, ensuring the safe and stable supply of natural gas in Shenzhen.

Hudong-Zhonghua is China’s only company that can build large-size LNG carriers, with world-leading technologies and techniques.

According to Hudong-Zhonghua, the enterprise will strengthen the management and arrange professional technicians to guarantee the vessel’s high-quality construction.

“K” Line is one of the world’s top 10 shipping enterprises, owning 442 various vessels and having valuable experience in LNG transportation.

The Japanese transportation company will dispatch a professional supervision team consisting of 12 to 15 people and led by an experienced LNG shipbuilder for the project.

SZ Gas president Zhang Xiaodong said that the cooperation with Hudong-Zhonghua and “K” Line would speed up Shenzhen Gas’ shipbuilding project. The construction of a self-owned LNG carrier is an important step for SZ Gas to achieve the city’s tasks of reserving natural gas and developing an LNG trading business.

As the world’s largest fourth-generation LNG carrier for shallow waterways, the vessel measuring 239 meters long and 36 meters wide has a storage capacity of nearly 80,000 cubic meters.

The total project investment was approximately US$140 million. Hudong-Zhonghua is expected to deliver the carrier in January 2023. 

(Xia Yuanjie)