Shanghai-based yard Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co Ltd, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, recently achieved a milestone by delivering its seventh liquefied natural gas carrier of the year, setting a record for annual LNG ship deliveries by a Chinese shipbuilder.
Named Hlaitan, the carrier was handed over to QatarEnergy on Dec 6 at Changxing Island in Shanghai. It’s the third of its kind delivered to QatarEnergy as part of the company’s historic LNG fleet expansion program.
The Hlaitan is a 174,000-cubic-meter LNG carrier, measuring 299 meters in length and 46.4 meters in width.
This fifth-generation Changheng series vessel boasts the latest in cutting-edge designs from Hudong-Zhonghua and is said to adhere to the highest technical and environmental standards.
Key advancements include a new-generation double-skeg hull line, along with digital and low-carbon solutions.
The vessel has been classified by both the American Bureau of Shipping and the China Classification Society.
Its delivery marks Hudong-Zhonghua’s third LNG carrier for QatarEnergy in less than three months — a performance that’s said to underscore the shipyard’s efficiency and commitment to quality.
What’s more, the shipbuilder has optimized its construction processes using digital shipbuilding technologies and lean production methods to maximize efficiency and quality control.
Hudong-Zhonghua is a major participant in QatarEnergy’s ambitious LNG fleet expansion project, which in total plans to build over 100 LNG carriers.
The shipyard has secured contracts for 24 ultra-large 271,000-cu-m LNG carriers and 12 large 174,000-cu-m carriers, further consolidating its position as a global leader in LNG shipbuilding.
The Hlaitan is scheduled to start operating for its new owner on Dec 11. Meanwhile, Hudong-Zhonghua plans to deliver another 174,000-cu-m LNG carrier before the end of the year, further building on its record-breaking achievements.
