CIMC SOE rolls red carpet for Seaspan’s final 7,600 cbm LNG bunker vessel

The third and final 7,600 cubic meters (cbm) liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessel booked by Canada’s shipowner Seaspan Energy and built by China’s CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering (CIMC SOE) has been delivered, French classification society Bureau Veritas (BV) revealed.

The small-scale LNG bunkering vessel, christened the Seaspan Baker, was handed over during a ceremony held on January 27, 2025— about six months after its launch, which took place July 1, 2024.

The Panama-flagged newbuilding measures 112.8 meters in length, with a beam of 18.6 meters and a draft of 5.5 meters, as per the London-headquartered data provider VesselsValue.

As informed, the 4,500 dwt Seaspan Baker—which has been classed by BV—boasts “advanced” capabilities, including the possibility to run on both conventional fuel and liquefied natural gas (LNG), a DC power distribution system and twin type C cargo tanks.

It is understood that the NOx III-compliant ship has been outfitted with azimuth thrusters for main propulsion, dual compressor systems for boil-off gas handling, a sub-cooler unit to maintain tank pressure and three-manifold stations intended for increased flexibility during bunkering operations.

“After numerous meticulous adjustments and strict inspections, the S1067 is the fruit of the close cooperation and joint efforts of the company and its partners. Since the launching ceremony on July 1st, all team members have painstakingly refined and worked tirelessly, demonstrating CIMC SOE’s outstanding technical strength and innovation capabilities, as well as the spirit of cooperation,” Shen Lintao, the Deputy General Manager of the Shipbuilding Division, CIMC SOE, commented.

The Canadian shipping group Seaspan Marine Transportation signed an agreement with CIMC SOE for the construction of two 7,600 cbm LNG bunker vessels, with the option for another ship, back in May 2023.

The first vessel, named the Seaspan Garibaldi, was launched in the early days of January 2024 and then handed over in August of that same year. The second unit, dubbed Seaspan Lions, hit the water in April 2024 and was finally delivered in October of that same year.

As explained, this was not the first time for BV and CIMC SOE to collaborate. According to the classification society, the two parties have previously worked together on an array of ‘major’ projects, including a trio of 16,500 cbm liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers and a sextet of 27,500 cbm LNG dual-fuel carriers.

The two companies are reportedly set to also work on projects involving two 12,500 cbm LNG bunkering vessels, two 24,000 cbm liquefied ethylene gas (LEG) carriers as well as the new SPP40 platform supply vessels, said to be designed for electric propulsion.

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