A shipyard official confirms that the yard, to date China’s only LNG shipbuilder, has netted a contract to build four 174,000-cbm dual-fuel diesel-electric vessels.
It is also holding options for a further two ships.
The first of the firm vessels will be delivered in 2015, with two to follow in 2016 and the final ship plus any option in 2017.
This is the fourth major order for the Chinese yard which has been holding off other domestic yards that are keen to make a break into the LNG sector.
The Sinopec-CSG ships will be the largest LNG carriers built by Hudong and the first DFDE vessels.
The authorities in China have made it mandatory for the country’s LNG buyers and shipbuilders to engage in the transport element of any free-on-board (FOB) long-term LNG-sales deals signed.
The vessels are expected to be controlled through CSDC subsidiary CS LNG, which is working in a joint venture on the LNG newbuildings with Sinopec-controlled Kantons Investment of Hong Kong.
Sinopec needs the ships to lift cargoes from the upcoming APLNG project, from which it is buying a massive 7.6 million tonnes per annum of LNG.
Origin and ConocoPhillips each hold 37.5% stakes in APLNG with Sinopec controlling the balance.
