On October 20, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding successfully held a naming and delivery ceremony for the 174,000 m³ LNG carrier “GreenEnergy Sea”. The vessel is a part of China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC)’s long-term FOB (Free on Board) LNG resource project.
It is reported that CNOOC’s project to provide LNG carrier capacity for its long-term FOBsupply contracts involves the construction of 12 LNG carriers, each with a capacity of 174,000 m³—split equally into two phases of six vessels each. To date, the “GreenEnergy” series of LNG carriers already in operation have transported a cumulative total of over 4.7 million tonnes of LNG, serving more than 50 receiving terminals across five continents. Two of these vessels, the “GreenEnergy Ocean” and “GreenEnergy Pearl”, have been honored with the “Green Ship Award” by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.
Hudong-Zhonghua and CNOOC have a history of cooperation spanning more than 20 years. In 2004, with the support of CNOOC, Hudong-Zhonghua secured orders for the first six 147,000 m³ membrane-type LNG carriers in China, marking the beginning of their partnership. To date, the two companies have signed contracts for a total of 22 large LNG carriers. The “GreenEnergy Sea,” which was recently named, is the 18th LNG carrier Hudong-Zhonghua has built for CNOOC.
The “GreenEnergy Sea” is the fifth-generation “Changheng Series” LNG carrier independently developed and designed by Hudong-Zhonghua. It has a total length of 299 meters, a beam of 46.4 meters, and a draft of 26.25 meters. Equipped with a range of low-carbon and energy-efficient technologies, it offers lower overall energy consumption, superior cryogenic performance, greater cargo capacity, and streamlined operation and maintenance compared to the previous generation of LNG carriers, reducing daily carbon emissions by more than 10 tons.
Building on the mature and well-established construction system of the “Changheng Series,” the “Green Energy Sea” has achieved internationally leading standards in safety, environmental protection, and operational efficiency. Upon delivery, the vessel will further strengthen China’s offshore natural gas transportation capabilities and provide additional safeguards for domestic energy supply, storage, and transportation.