On January 30, the Tian Shan, the 60th large liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier built by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, was named and delivered two months ahead of schedule.
In 2008, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding delivered “Dapeng Hao”, China’s first domestically-built large-scale LNG carrier, marking the arduous journey of Chinese shipbuilders to climb the “jewel in the crown” of the world’s shipbuilding industry. The delivery of the “Tianshan” LNG carrier has updated this achievement to 60 vessels. It is worth mentioning that Hudong-Zhonghua has significantly shortened the construction cycle of LNG carriers from the initial 36 months to the current 16 months, reaching the world’s fastest level.
“Tianshan” measures 295 meters in overall length and 45 meters in beam, with a service speed of 19.5 knots. It combines multiple advantages including low evaporation rate, low energy consumption, high reliability, superior environmental performance, strong versatility, and excellent economy. In terms of design, environmental protection, and energy efficiency, the vessel has achieved world-leading standards.
Tianshan employs the latest generation dual-fuel low-speed propulsion system globally, equipped with domestically produced high-efficiency propellers to further reduce fuel consumption. Both its fuel oil and gas modes comply with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) most stringent environmental emission standards. The vessel’s “core”—a high-quality containment system with robust reliquefaction capability—flexibly handles evaporated gas generated during transit, significantly reducing cargo loss and delivering outstanding economic performance.
The Tian Shan marks the culmination of the COSCO Shipping-PetroChina LNG transportation project. Together with its seven sister vessels previously delivered—including the Shaolin, Wudang, and Kunlun—it forms a formidable fleet of eight flagship carriers. The assembly of this fleet will significantly enhance China’s autonomous control over maritime LNG transportation and effectively mitigate risks in the energy supply chain.
Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding stated that as the “chain leader” in the LNG industry chain, the company holds orders for over 50 vessels with production plans extending through 2030. It is driving the coordinated development of more than 130 domestic high-end supporting enterprises, propelling the upgrade and expansion of a high-end equipment industry cluster valued at hundreds of billions of yuan.
Moreover, Hudong-Zhonghua has continued to deepen its expertise in clean energy equipment, having launched over ten types of green vessels capable of transporting new clean energy sources such as liquid hydrogen, liquid ammonia and ethane. These innovations contribute Chinese wisdom and solutions to advancing global green and low-carbon development.