On August 14, CSSC Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd. successfully held the naming ceremony for the “Al Sabsab”, the 10th 174,000 m³ large LNG carrier built for QatarEnergy.
This vessel is the latest generation of Hudong-Zhonghua’s independently developed fifth-generation “Changheng Series” 174,000 m³ LNG carrier, custom-designed to strictly meet the operational standards of QatarEnergy’s world-class LNG fleet. The design integrates the best practices from previous generations of LNG carriers, combining cutting-edge design concepts, high-end equipment, and green, intelligent technologies to deliver both outstanding environmental performance and advanced technical adaptability.
The vessel has an overall length of 299 meters, a beam of 46.4 meters, and a draft of 26.25 meters. It features a new-generation optimized hull form with twin stern fins, It integrates multiple low-carbon, energy-efficient technologies and a digital operations and maintenance system, offering outstanding advantages such as excellent speed performance, lightweight construction, low overall energy consumption, strong ship-to-shore compatibility, convenient and efficient operations and maintenance, and high compatibility with liquid cargo systems across multiple routes. The vessel has been classified by both the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and the China Classification Society (CCS), with its overall performance reaching the industry’s top level.
It is reported that QatarEnergy launched a global tender for LNG shipowners in 2021 to meet the LNG transportation needs of the northern Qatar gas field expansion project. Shanghai LNG, a subsidiary of COSCO Shipping Energy, and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines jointly won the bid for seven 174,000 m³ LNG carriers and six 271,000 m³ QC-MAX LNG carriers, all of which will be built by Hudong-Zhonghua.
Since the project’s launch, COSCO Shipping Energy has worked closely with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and Hudong-Zhonghua to strictly control the quality of newbuilds and the safety of vessels in operation throughout the entire process. As of July 2026, the first four vessels in the project had been successfully delivered and had completed a cumulative total of 56 safe voyages, transporting a total of 3.5151 million tons of LNG.