On June 8, Zhoushan Changhong International Shipyard Co., Ltd. (Changhong International) signed the delivery documents during an online video conference. The “Mediterranean Maria Laura” (CHB2038), the second 10,300-TEU LNG-powered container ship built for Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), was successfully delivered 206 days ahead of the contractually scheduled delivery date.
This series of vessels was jointly developed and designed by Changhong International and CIMC Ocean Engineering Design & Research Institute (CIMC ORIC), and is classified by DNV. It represents one of the key vessel types in the current transition toward green shipping. The vessel features LNG dual-fuel main engines and generators, along with a high- and low-pressure hybrid gas supply system. It incorporates cutting-edge designs such as ammonia-ready and methanol-ready capabilities, fully demonstrating the forward-thinking nature of its design and paving the way for a carbon-neutral shipping industry in the future.
In terms of performance, the vessel’s hull design is optimized to align with the shipowner’s multi-objective operational plan, delivering key technical advantages such as high speed and low fuel consumption. Featuring a twin-island layout, the vessel is equipped with the largest C-type LNG fuel tanks in its class. Whether operating in LNG or fuel oil mode, its range is sufficient to cover a single round-trip on routes between China and Europe or China and the United States, providing the shipowner with significant operational flexibility.
Changhong International signed a contract with MSC in 2023 for the construction of ten 10,300-TEU LNG-powered container ships; the total contract value is approximately US$1.3 billion, with deliveries expected to take place successively before 2027.
MSC has placed a total of approximately 40 orders for large container ships with Changhong International, all of which feature LNG dual-fuel or LNG-ready designs, with capacities ranging from 10,300 to 21,700 TEUs. Zhoushan Changhong International has become one of the preferred shipyards for MSC’s container ship projects.