World's first river-sea LNG bunkering vessel delivered ahead of schedule

The world's first river-sea liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessel was delivered in Shanghai on Friday, two months ahead of its schedule, according to China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC), the world's largest shipbuilding company.

With a length of 130 meters and a width of 23.6 meters, the ship has a capacity of 14,000 cubic meters. Named as Huaihe Nengyuan Qihang, it is independently researched, developed, designed, and constructed by Shanghai-based Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co Ltd, a subsidiary of CSSC.

The vessel, which can navigate both in oceans and the Yangtze River, is tailor-made for serving one-stop LNG bunkering and transportation.

The ship has a localization rate of above 85 percent, the highest among domestic LNG storage and transportation facilities. By collaborating with dozens of domestic enterprises, Hudong-Zhonghua successfully researched and manufactured a series of innovative equipment for the ship, including reliquefaction unit, natural gas compressor, dual-fuel generator sets, and electric propulsion system.

Thanks to its enhanced intelligent manufacturing and improved localization rate, Hudong-Zhonghua managed to deliver the vessel ahead of schedule by shortening the construction period within 16 months.

Being the nation's major waterway between east and west China, more than 3 billion tons of cargo were transported via the Yangtze River, accounting for more than 60 percent of the nation's river transportation capacity.