On December 16, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), jointly with China Shipbuilding Trading Co. Ltd (CSTC), signed a newbuilding contract for three 174,000 m³ LNG carriers with Bonny Gas Transport (BGT). This is a landmark signing, marking the first-ever collaboration between China and Africa in the LNG carrier construction sector and signifying a further expansion of the “Chinese solution” for high-end natural gas transportation equipment.
The newly contracted LNG carrier is the fifth-generation “Changheng Series” LNG vessel independently developed and designed by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding. This vessel incorporates multiple low-carbon energy-saving technologies, featuring low comprehensive energy consumption, excellent low-temperature performance, strong cargo-carrying capacity, and sophisticated operation and maintenance capabilities. It adopts the world’s most advanced NO96 Super+ type containment system, achieving internationally advanced levels in key metrics such as Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), environmental performance, and Ballast Water Evaporation Rate (BOR). Daily carbon emissions are reduced by over 10 tons, and it can access 120 LNG terminals across all continents, demonstrating exceptional global navigability.
With its world-leading technology and performance, Hudong-Zhonghua’s “fifth-generation” LNG carrier has received 39 orders in batches, once again breaking the world record for the number of orders for a single LNG carrier type, and contributing to China’s LNG equipment industry entering the world’s top tier.
Hudong-Zhonghua is a “business card of China” in the global LNG carrier sector and a “chain leader” of China’s offshore LNG industry chain. It has set a new benchmark for high-quality development with an annual delivery of 11 large-scale LNG carriers. As of December 19 this year, the company has delivered a total of 59 LNG carriers, including 15 fifth-generation vessels. Its high-standard construction quality has been highly recognized by international industry giants such as QatarEnergy. Meanwhile, relying on intelligent manufacturing and lean production, Hudong-Zhonghua has continuously set new records in the localization rate of key components. The undertaking of the BGT project will strongly support the localization of core equipment for LNG carriers and the collaborative upgrading of the entire industry chain, thereby better meeting the global demand for clean energy transportation.
Nigeria LNG is one of Africa’s largest LNG exporters, with an annual production capacity exceeding 22 million metric tons. BGT, its shipping subsidiary, operates Africa’s largest dedicated LNG fleet, ensuring reliable LNG transportation for Nigeria LNG.
China and Nigeria have maintained diplomatic relations for 54 years, establishing a solid partnership in economic and trade cooperation, engineering construction, and strategic collaboration.
This signing holds significant importance as Hudong-Zhonghua has broken BGT’s previous pattern of exclusively partnering with foreign shipyards, successfully expanding into the African market. This milestone signifies recognition of China’s LNG carrier construction capabilities by African energy giants, paving the way for deeper energy and equipment cooperation between China and Africa while further broadening economic and trade ties between China and African nations. Simultaneously, it is expected to attract greater attention from energy and shipping giants across Africa, Europe, and Southeast Asia toward Chinese shipbuilders, thereby further increasing China’s share in the global high-end shipbuilding market.