COSCO and CNPC’s third LNG carrier aces trials in seven days

The third large-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier built by Chinese shipyard Hudong – Zhonghua Shipbuilding for compatriot shipowner COSCO Shipping Lines and energy firm China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) has completed its gas and routine sea trials, setting a new record for the shipbuilder.

According to Hudong-Zhonghua, the 174,000 cbm ship (H1833A) completed the gas trial and successfully docked at the company’s No. 0 terminal on 28 February.

The ship has reached four major milestones within one month, including docking, liquid nitrogen cooling test, routine sea trial and gas sea trial, the shipbuilder explained.

The gas trial was completed in seven days, setting the record for the shortest gas trial voyage of the company’s large-scale LNG carrier.

During this time, the sea trial team considered various conditions and arranged the test items to maximise the use of gas fuel to save time and reduce costs.

Following the trials, the H1833A construction team is currently invested in the elimination of defects and is working towards the ship’s delivery target by the end of March.

The LNG carrier is part of COSCO’s and CNPC’s project to expand the LNG industry under which they placed an initial order for three LNG carriers at Hudong – Zhonghua back in 2020. In June 2021, CNPC ordered three more 174,000 cbm carriers at the same shipyard.

The first ship of the project, Shaolin, was delivered in October 2022 followed by the second carrier Wudang which was handed over in Shanghai on 15 December 2022.

Meanwhile, Hudong-Zhonghua is progressing with the construction of the fourth LNG carrier for COSCO Shipping Lines and CNPC. On 12 January, the shipbuilder held a keel-laying ceremony for the ship which is the first unit in CNCP’s order from June 2021.