Recently, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding of China State Shipbuilding Corporation has achieved significant milestones in the construction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and large container ships.
On September 30, the LNG carrier (Hull No.: H1800A) for the QatarEnergy project, constructed by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, successfully completed its combined sea trials and safely berthed at Berth No. 3 in the western facility.
During the vessel’s construction, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding rigorously advanced lean management practices, established key project schedule acceleration targets, and strictly controlled production progress. By the second docking phase, the vessel had achieved cooling tests and entered gas-filling sea trial status.
The vessel’s speed and maneuverability test results both exceeded contractual specifications, while vibration and noise test data significantly outperformed design targets.
Additionally, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding has successfully completed the integrated sea trials for the LNG carrier (Hull No.: H1909A) constructed for the CNPC LNG Phase III Project. The vessel spent merely six days at sea before returning safely to port. Notably, the CNPC LNG Phase III Project forms an integral part of China National Petroleum Corporation’s (CNPC) ongoing initiatives to strengthen its LNG operational capabilities.
During the dock construction phase, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding completed the containment system work seven days ahead of schedule. The cryogenic system was delivered on schedule, successfully meeting the September 14 liquid nitrogen test milestone.
During the liquid nitrogen testing phase, Hudong-Zhonghua adopted a dual-operation approach combining liquid nitrogen testing with berth natural gas bunkering. This strategy reduced liquid nitrogen consumption to 260 tons while overcoming the impact of severe convective weather. The company efficiently completed all berth natural gas tests, achieving cost savings throughout the process.
On September 29, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding kicked off construction of the 13,600 TEU large container ship (Hull No.: H1944A) for Seaspan.
Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding stated that it will strictly adhere to the construction guidelines for this vessel type, thoroughly apply lean tools, continuously optimize processes and methods, and persistently advance efficient welding practices. The company aims to build a benchmark vessel of the highest quality within its class.