Chinese Shipbuilder to Construct LNG Transport Bunkering Vessels for Fuzhou Wuyang Refined Oil Trading
Chinese shipbuilder Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering (CIMC SOE) has recently inked a letter of intent with compatriot firm Fuzhou Wuyang Refined Oil Trading (Wuyang Tanker) for the construction of 1+1 12,000 cbm liquefied natural gas (LNG) transport bunkering vessels.
The upcoming dual-purpose vessels will be equipped with two IMO Type C cargo tanks, each boasting a capacity of approximately 6,000 cubic meters. These ships will feature a shallow draft design along with a bow thruster for enhanced maneuverability in narrow inland waterways.
Additionally, the LNG transport bunkering vessels will possess an ice class B rating, a DP2 system, a full-load speed of around 13 knots, and are projected to have a service life of 30 years. The vessels will be powered by an advanced electric propulsion system, enabling them to conduct both LNG transportation and refueling operations.
The vessels will be capable of performing ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore refueling, reverse transfer/replenishment services, as well as offering professional services such as pre-delivery inerting, cold cabins, and gas testing for large LNG-powered ships.
Upon completion, these ships will primarily engage in tasks such as domestic and international transportation, refueling LNG-powered vessels in coastal regions, and LNG transshipment at inland river refueling stations and Yangtze River transit points.
The successful construction and operation of these vessels are expected to advance the use of clean and low-carbon energy within the domestic and international shipping sectors, contributing to the growth of a sustainable shipping market. This collaboration aligns with China’s ‘Carbon Peak and Neutrality’ objectives.
In a related development, CIMC SOE recently delivered the second of three 7,600 cbm LNG bunker vessels, Seaspan Lions, to Canadian shipowner Seaspan in late October 2024. The vessel is designated to provide LNG fueling services to ships operating along the North American West Coast.