On December 10th, COSCO SHIPPING (Qidong) Offshore held a keel-laying ceremony for the N1253 88,000 m³ ultra-large liquefied gas carrier (abbreviated as 88K VLGC), marking the official entry of the project into the hull assembly phase.
The 88K VLGC N1253 features a newly designed low-resistance hull line with four Type A independent liquid cargo tanks. Utilizing advanced cryogenic welding techniques, it can transport nine types of liquefied gases, including liquid ammonia.
Equipped with an LPG dual-fuel main engine, the 88K VLGC reduces carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 20% compared to similar vessels, delivering outstanding speed performance and fuel efficiency. It holds dual classification from China Classification Society and Lloyd’s Register. As the largest VLGC currently capable of transiting both old and new Panama Canal locks, this vessel represents a new technological breakthrough for China in the field of large liquefied gas carriers.
Project N1253 is China’s first newly built Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC) flying the Five-Star Red Flag and classified by the China Classification Society. It also marks COSCO SHIPPING Heavy Industry’s inaugural VLGC construction and COSCO SHIPPING Group’s first self-built and self-operated VLGC. The vessel’s construction represents a milestone in China’s large-scale liquefied gas carrier sector.
Currently, the overall progress of the project is advancing steadily and in an orderly manner. Key paths such as design, procurement, and construction are all under control, with all quality and safety indicators performing well.