Since 2026, Chinese shipbuilders have secured orders for an additional six liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers. Including option vessels, Chinese shipbuilders have secured orders for 18 LNG carriers in January.
According to Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, on January 30, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, in collaboration with China Shipbuilding Trading Co. Ltd (CSTC), successfully signed a contract with Malaysian International Shipping Corporation Berhad (MISC) for the construction of 3+3 174,000 m³ large liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers. Upon delivery, the new vessels will be chartered to Petronas, , the Malaysian national oil company.
MISC was established in 1968 and is majority-owned by Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas). MISC’s core mission is “Delivering Energy, Building a Better World.” It has evolved into a comprehensive shipping group with diversified maritime operations, emerging as a major player in the shipping and energy maritime services sectors across Southeast Asia and globally.
Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding stated that this order is expected to reach 10 vessels, with the first batch of 3+3 vessels being rapidly finalized. This represents a strong endorsement by MISC of the company’s LNG carrier construction technology, delivery capabilities and quality control.
The 174,000 m³ LNG carrier signed in this contract represents the fifth-generation flagship vessel of the Changheng Series, independently developed by Hudong-Zhonghua. Equipped with multiple core low-carbon energy-saving technologies, the vessel reduces daily carbon emissions by over 10 tons and achieves an Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) at the forefront of international standards.
The vessel employs the world’s most advanced NO96 Super+ containment system, delivering optimal cargo boil-off rate (BOR) performance. It combines significant advantages including high cargo capacity, low comprehensive energy consumption, and exceptional operational reliability. Achieving world-leading standards across key metrics such as energy efficiency, environmental protection, and cargo storage, it has become the preferred vessel type in the global LNG carrier market. With the finalization of MISC’s large order, Hudong-Zhonghua’s order book for this vessel type has surpassed 48 units, setting a new global record for orders received for LNG carriers of this class.
This marks the fourth LNG carrier order secured by Chinese shipbuilders in 2026, bringing the total number of new LNG carrier orders received by domestic shipyards to 13+5 vessels. It also represents the second major LNG carrier order secured by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding within just a few days.
On January 15, Jiangnan Shipyard announced it had secured orders for two 175,000 m³ LNG carriers from Singapore’s Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS), marking the first LNG carrier order for China’s shipbuilding industry in 2026.
On January 21, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding signed a contract with Greece’s TMS Cardiff Gas for 4+2 174,000 m³ LNG carriers, marking its first LNG carrier order for 2026.
On January 30, Jiangnan Shipyard successfully signed a contract to build four 175,000 m³ LNG carriers. Upon delivery, these vessels will be long-term chartered to Shell. The shipowner is Minsheng Financial Leasing, with commercial operations managed by Shandong Marine Energy. https://www.imarinenews.com/31970.html