Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation has taken a new step in the growth of its international liquefied natural gas (LNG) maritime transportation business with the order of four new methane carriers with a capacity of 175,000 cubic meters. The operation has been formalized through its subsidiary Cosco Shipping LNG Investment (Shanghai), which has signed a construction contract with Jiangnan Shipyard.
The total investment is expected to amount to 6.45 billion yuan, equivalent to about 950 million dollars. The four vessels will be delivered between 2029 and 2030 and, once incorporated into the fleet, will operate under a time charter contract for seven years with Shell Shipping (Singapore) Private Limited.
According to Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation, the project is part of China's national energy development strategies and responds to the need to optimize the structure of its LNG fleet, increase its own operational capacity, and consolidate its position in the global energy maritime logistics market.
The new methane carriers will incorporate technologies aimed at reducing fuel consumption and emissions associated with navigation. They will be equipped with dual WinGD XDF 2.2 main engines, primarily fueled by LNG, and will feature iCER systems for intelligent control through exhaust gas recirculation, and VCR for variable compression ratio.
The design also includes low-slip methane auxiliary generators, high-efficiency shaft alternators, and advanced reliquefaction systems. This configuration will allow the reduction of gas and diesel consumption, limit carbon emissions, and decrease methane slip, one of the technical aspects that draws the most attention in the environmental evolution of the LNG-powered fleet.
The vessels respond to the next-generation design developed by Jiangnan Shipyard for LNG transportation, with a proposal focused on operational flexibility, energy efficiency, and adaptation to the demands of large international charterers. The Chinese company believes that this solution will reduce operational costs for the client and provide stability to global energy supply chains.
The contract with Shell strengthens Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation's link to the international LNG market, a segment where shipowners seek to expand capacity in the face of growing demand for maritime gas transportation and the need for more efficient vessels. The entry into service of these units between 2029 and 2030 will occur during a period marked by new environmental requirements, greater competition among operators, and an energy project portfolio that maintains the demand for large-capacity methane carriers.
The operation also consolidates Jiangnan Shipyard's position as one of the Chinese shipyards with the most activity in the construction of high-specification gas carriers. The technical complexity of these methane carriers, both due to their containment systems and their propulsion and evaporated gas management solutions, places this type of order among the segments with the highest added value within shipbuilding.