LNG bunkering tanker ready to refuel vessels

Hai Yang Shi You 301, the world's largest liquefied natural gas carrier and bunkering tanker, successfully filled the dual-fuel container ship CMA CGM CONCORDE with 6,000 cubic meters of bonded LNG at Yantian Port in the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone earlier this month, indicating the completion of the first bonded LNG refueling operation in the southern Chinese region.

It was the first time Yantian Port realized bonded LNG refueling after completing LNG refueling for international vessels earlier, according to a statement released by Guangzhou Shipyard International Co Ltd, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corp listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

It will greatly enhance the comprehensive competitiveness of Yantian Port, an international shipping center, and is of great significance for Shenzhen in building a global LNG filling and marine center in South China's Guangdong province, the statement said.

Hai Yang Shi You 301, with a total length of 184.7 meters and a molded breadth of 28.1 meters, can load more than 30,000 cubic meters of LNG.

The vessel owned by State-owned CNOOC Ltd uses LNG for power and is the first LNG bunkering tanker in China with a filling function in the wake of its reconstruction, said the statement.

It can provide ship-to-ship refueling services for large LNG fuel-powered ships berthing in domestic coastal ports, taking into account international LNG short-haul transportation, it said.

Hai Yang Shi You 301 was delivered for use in November after completing reconstruction in Nansha district, located at the mouth of the Pearl River in the Guangdong provincial capital.

Xie Junpeng, general manager of Guangzhou Wenchong Dockyard, said LNG has now become the first choice to replace fuel oil as marine power.

"Therefore, providing LNG refueling services for ships powered by LNG is an important basis for boosting the development of LNG fuel ships," said Xie, whose company handled the reconstruction of Hai Yang Shi You 301.

With the increasing requirements by the International Maritime Organization on the carbon emissions of new shipbuilding, the use of LNG can reduce carbon emissions by nearly 25 percent, Xie said at the vessel's completion and delivery ceremony.

He said the completion of the LNG bunkering retrofitting project will help to achieve the country's carbon dioxide emissions peak and carbon neutrality goals and make contributions to the development of China's new energy marine industry.

Xie promised his company would further advance cooperation with CNOOC Ltd and related companies in building and reconstructing LNG refueling vessels and related LNG bunkering retrofitting projects in the months to come.

Before it was reconstructed by Guangzhou Wenchong Dockyard, Hai Yang Shi You 301, which was officially put into operation in September 2015, was the first LNG carrier independently designed, built, managed and operated by the country.

CNOOC Ltd decided to reconstruct Hai Yang Shi You 310 into the world's largest LNG carrier and bunkering tanker to help meet the growing LNG bunkering market demand in 2022.