On March 18, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd. simultaneously kicked off construction—marked by the traditional “steel-cutting” ceremony—on the H1898A, the first of a series of 174,000 m³ LNG carriers being built for ENN Natural Gas, and the H1940A, the second vessel in a series of 14,000 TEU container ships for Peter Döhle.
174,000 m³ LNG carrier
The 174,000 m³ LNG carrier is a flagship vessel of the fifth-generation “Changheng Series”, independently developed and designed by Hudong-Zhonghua. It offers outstanding advantages such as safety, reliability, environmental friendliness, high efficiency, and excellent economic performance. With over 20 core technologies developed entirely in-house, the vessel achieves world-leading standards in key performance areas including energy efficiency, environmental protection metrics, cargo storage, and operational economics.
This project marks the first collaboration between Hudong-Zhonghua and ENN Natural Gas. ENN Natural Gas ranks 175th on the 2025 list of China’s Top 500 Enterprises. Established in 1989 in Langfang, Hebei, the Group began with a focus on urban gas and has since gradually expanded to cover the entire natural gas industry value chain—encompassing distribution, trading, transmission and storage, production, and intelligent engineering and manufacturing—thereby integrating the clean energy industrial chain. Currently, the Group operates 261 gas projects across 20 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions nationwide, serving over 31 million households and 270,000 corporate clients.
14,000 TEU container ship
This vessel type features an overall length of approximately 336 meters, a beam of 51 meters, and a depth of 30.2 meters, with a carrying capacity of 14,170 standard 20-foot containers. Incorporating the latest design concepts, this vessel features a conventional fuel propulsion system while incorporating provisions for a future methanol-fueled propulsion solution, thereby meeting the shipowner’s subsequent requirements for green fuel retrofitting. Furthermore, it is equipped with scrubbers and other energy-saving devices, distinguished by its low overall energy consumption, superior speed capabilities, and exceptional environmental friendliness; its overall performance ranks among the most advanced in the world.
It is reported that both shipowners are collaborating with Hudong-Zhonghua for the first time; the simultaneous commencement of construction on two vessels on the same day underscores Hudong-Zhonghua’s formidable capabilities in design, R&D, and shipbuilding.
Hudong-Zhonghua stated that the company will continue to deepen its R&D efforts in high-end vessel types, committing itself to providing global shipowners with clean and intelligent products, thereby contributing to the national energy transition and the green upgrade of the global shipping industry.