CIMC SOE hands over second 7,600 cbm bunker vessel to Seaspan

Chinese shipbuilding company CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering (CIMC SOE) has delivered and named the second of three 7,600 cbm liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunker vessels, Seaspan Lions, to Canadian shipowner Seaspan.

Launched in April this year, the 4,500 dwt Panama-flagged barge has an overall length of 112.8 meters, a beam of 18.6 meters and a draft of 5.2 meters, as per information from the London-based data provider, VesselsValue. The ship is set to provide LNG fueling services to vessels on the North American West Coast.

A year after Seaspan and CIMC SOE signed the contract for the series of three 7,600 cbm LNG bunker barges, the construction of Seaspan Lions began, namely, in May 2023, with a steel-cutting ceremony held on May 10 at the Chinese shipyard.

As disclosed, the bunker barge is fitted with a direct current power distribution system, supported by three dual-fuel generators. Moreover, the ship is propelled by two 1,600 KW azimuth thrusters, which are believed to ‘enhance’ the environmental performance in terms of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) and operational pollution emissions while ‘improving’ economic efficiency, CIMC SOE highlighted.

Seaspan bid welcome to the first LNG barge of the series in August this year, nearly a year and a half after the construction of the vessel, christened Seaspan Garibaldi, commenced.

Designed together with with VARD Marine, Seaspan Garibaldi reportedly has an “advanced” DC power distribution system alongside two tanks comprising TGE Marine Gas Engineering’s fuel gas system, intank, and cargo pumps for each tank as well as two compressor systems for boil-off gas (BOG) handling.

The remaining vessel—dubbed the Seaspan Baker—was launched on July 1, 2024, with an anticipated delivery date slated for 2025. As informed, Seaspan Baker will service the Long Beach containership market and join Seaspan Lions in the West Coast fueling services.