Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) is not only making its mark in LNG shipbuilding but history as well, by constructing the world’s largest stainless-steel chemical tanker.
This summer, it delivered the 49,000-dwt Bow Orion to Odfjell. The tanker is part of a four-ship order that the Norwegian shipowner placed in 2016.
But the yard is no newcomer to this type of vessel, having secured its first contract for six 38,000-dwt newbuildings from Stolt Nielsen in 2012.
“We have built this ship type in the past, but it was under Zhonghua Shipbuilding,” Hudong-Zhonghua president Chen Jun says.
Hudong-Zhonghua became one unit in 2001, when Hudong Shipbuilding merged with Zhonghua Shipyard as state-owned shipbuilding group China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC) reorganised shipyards under its umbrella.
“Stainless-steel chemical tankers will be one of the ship types that Hudong-Zhonghua will be focusing on,” Chen says. “We will also be focusing on constructing mega-containerships and heavylift vessels. These ship types are of higher specifications.”
In September, Hudong-Zhonghua-controlled Shanghai Jiangnan Changxing Shipbuilding launched the world's largest LNG-powered boxship.
Named after the late founder of CMA CGM, the 23,112-teu CMA CGM Jacques Saade is the first of nine LNG-powered ultra large containerships ordered by the French liner company in 2017 with CSSC.
Five have been ordered at Hudong-Zhonghua and four at Jiangnan Shipyard, with deliveries dates from March 2020 to February 2021.
But Hudong-Zhonghua will be excluding conventional bulkers from its product portfolio as the majority of shipyards in China are capable of building them.
Chen adds that LNG ships will continue to be his company’s focus.
The yard is also keen to construct mid-size membrane-type LNG ships as there will be some demand for these in the domestic trades. China is promoting green shipping and is promoting LNG as an alternate clean marine fuel.
