CSIC sees dual-fuel as big opportunity

China Shipbuilding Industry Corp, or CSIC, the primary contractor for China's naval force, has completed the basic design and related research for a dual-fuel container ship that can carry 20,000 twenty-foot-equivalent-unit containers, said its top executive on Monday.

With a dual-fuel engine, the ship can use liquefied natural gas and regular fuel to convert chemical energy to mechanical energy. Thanks to LNG's cleaner burning properties, dual-fuel powered commercial vessels have become an option for shipping companies to comply with international environmental regulations.

In addition to producing high-end mega container ships, Hu Wenming, CSIC's chairman, said the group will launch a three-year action plan to focus on building high-end ships, offshore engineering products and brand awareness throughout the world, in particular in markets related to the Belt and Road Initiative.