Recently, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, in collaboration with China Shipbuilding Trading Co. Ltd (CSTC) officially signed a contract with Malaysia International Shipping Corporation (MISC Berhad) to build one 18,700 cbm LNG carrier. This marks a new chapter in their partnership, following the order for “5+5” large LNG carriers placed by the two parties earlier this year.
This marks the first time Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding has secured an order for a membrane-type LNG carrier of this size class; this achievement further expands the company’s LNG carrier product portfolio, enabling it to meet the diverse needs of global customers with a more comprehensive range of offerings.
The 18,700 cbm LNG carrier independently developed by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding is China’s first small-scale LNG vessel to utilize membrane-type containment system technology. It features a compact, highly efficient layout, flexible ship-to-shore compatibility, and excellent cryogenic insulation performance.
This vessel features a length of 129.8 meters and a beam of 25.4 meters. Its compact design is well-suited to the constraints—such as dimensional limits and shallow drafts—of small-scale LNG terminals. Capable of accessing major small-to-medium coastal terminals and navigating inland waterways, the vessel supports integrated river-sea transport.
It utilizes a twin-skeg propulsion system—a technology proven on large LNG carriers—achieving a design speed of 15 knots. This configuration offers excellent speed performance, maneuverability, and high propulsion efficiency, improving propulsion power performance by approximately 20% compared to single-skeg designs. Equipped with a dual-fuel electric propulsion system, the vessel can operate in gas mode across all load conditions while meeting Tier III environmental standards. It features a membrane-type containment system with an LNG cargo capacity of 18,700 cubic meters and a daily boil-off rate of just 0.24%, effectively meeting the vessel’s fuel requirements during voyages and ensuring outstanding operational economics.
As a pioneer in China’s LNG carrier sector, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding leverages a modern smart shipyard and a lean management system to maintain its leadership in large-scale construction capabilities. Having already delivered 64 LNG carriers, the company boasts a robust order book, with production schedules extending beyond 2030.
MISC, a subsidiary of PETRONAS, is a benchmark enterprise in the global energy shipping sector. It operates a diverse fleet of high-end vessels—including LNG carriers and oil tankers—serving major energy trade routes worldwide, with an LNG fleet size and operational capabilities that rank firmly among the global elite. This latest order award stems from the deep mutual trust built through long-standing cooperation; it reflects MISC’s continued recognition of the company’s expertise in LNG vessel design and construction, and demonstrates that the partnership is expanding beyond single vessel types into broader and deeper areas of collaboration.