On August 21, Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co., Ltd. (hereinafter "CIMC SOE") held the steel-cutting ceremony for two 20,000-cubic-meter LNG bunker vessels (Hull Nos.: S1159 and S1160), built for GSX ENERGY LIMITED (hereinafter "GSX ENERGY"), at the West Zone Manufacturing Division workshop. The ceremony was witnessed by Luo Yonghong, Site Manager of ABS; Guan Xiquan, representative of the shipowner's supervision company (SMT), along with his team; and members of the CIMC SOE project team.
The two vessels that commenced construction are the third and fourth in the series of 20,000m³ LNG bunker vessels built by CIMC SOE for GSX ENERGY. Previously, the first vessel in the series (S1157) started construction in May this year, and the second (S1158) followed on August 10. The simultaneous start of these two vessels marks a new phase of accelerated construction for the series, fully demonstrating CIMC SOE's construction capabilities and project management expertise.
The 20,000m³ LNG bunker and carrier series measures 159 meters in overall length, with a beam of 25 meters and a design speed of 13 knots. Each vessel is equipped with a Wärtsilä dual-fuel main engine and a 1,300 kW shaft generator to meet normal sailing power requirements, with the option of a high-voltage shore power system for future installation. Notably, the vessel features a dual-fuel boiler with GCU functionality, designed with ice-class requirements in mind. While at berth, it can utilize boil-off gas for cabin heating, maximizing LNG fuel efficiency.
Against the backdrop of accelerating global shipping emission reduction, LNG bunker vessels, as a critical link in the clean fuel supply chain, continue to enjoy strong market demand. With its long-standing expertise in the small-to-medium gas carrier segment, CIMC SOE is steadily reinforcing its global competitive advantage through continuous construction starts and reliable delivery performance, contributing to the development of a safe and reliable clean energy supply chain for the shipping industry.
