On October 23, the first 175,000 cubic meter liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier “Sea Spirit” built by China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (DSIC) for China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES) successfully completed the unloading operation on its maiden voyage.
The “Sea Spirit” vessel was named and delivered at DSIC on September 24, setting sail the following day. It arrived in Yancheng, Jiangsu on the 27th and completed cold storage operations ahead of schedule on the 29th. On October 12, the Haiyun successfully berth at Bintulu Port, Malaysia. On the 13th, it efficiently completed its maiden LNG loading voyage. After berthing at Dapeng, Guangdong on the 22nd, it underwent nearly 12 hours of full-speed unloading operations, finally completing cargo delivery smoothly in the early morning of the 23rd. Throughout its maiden voyage, the vessel demonstrated stable operational performance, reliable cargo control systems, secure containment systems, and satisfactory fuel and gas consumption.
It is understood that the successful delivery of the “Sea Spirit” marks DSIC’s formal entry into the ranks of the world’s very few shipbuilders with the capability to construct large LNG carriers. It becomes China’s third shipbuilders, following Hudong-ZhonghuaShipbuilding and Jiangnan Shipyard, to successfully deliver a large LNG carrier.
The “Sea Spirit” vessel was independently developed and designed by DSIC, incorporating the latest international LNG carrier design concepts and integrating multiple cutting-edge technologies. With an overall length of 295 meters, a beam of 46.4 meters, a design draft of 11.5 meters, and a design service speed of 19.5 knots, the vessel boasts a total cargo capacity of 175,000 cubic meters. A single full-load shipment can meet the LNG demand of Dalian City for one and a half months. It is capable of berthing at the vast majority of large LNG terminals worldwide, demonstrating exceptional port adaptability and ship-to-shore compatibility.
The successful maiden voyage of the “Sea Spirit” not only verified the reliable construction quality and advanced comprehensive performance of the vessel, but also was a successful test of the professional collaboration of the ship-shore management team of China Merchants LNG Shipping, a subsidiary of CMES. It is also a vivid practice of the sincere cooperation among relevant parties in China’s LNG shipping industry chain to jointly enhance the independent and controllable LNG shipping capabilities.