On September 15, with the resounding whistle of S1086, the final vessel in the first batch of 40,000cbm LPG/ammonia carriers built by Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co., Ltd. (hereinafter "CIMC SOE") was successfully delivered and set sail. With this, CIMC SOE's project to build four 40K-class clean energy carriers for international shipping giant Exmar has come to a successful conclusion.
The project took effect and commenced on June 6, 2023. The first vessel was launched on May 12, 2025, and the final vessel was delivered on September 14, 2026. Over the three-year construction period, the CIMC SOE team proceeded steadily with meticulous planning and refined organization, proactively identifying risks and achieving multiple technical and construction breakthroughs: completing the first-ever in-tank cargo tank integration, the first afloat test of a Type A tank, and the first combined sea trial for a Type A tank, among other "firsts." The team continuously accumulated project experience, gradually compressing dock and quay construction cycles, and pioneered the rhythmic production model for both dock and quay operations initially set for MGC carriers. At the same time, they precisely controlled the construction pace, achieving efficient linkage across core processes including block erection, cargo tank installation, system commissioning, and sea trial delivery.
As a flagship vessel type suited to green shipping development, this batch of 40K-class carriers combines three core advantages: versatility, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability. They are adaptable to multiple clean energy transport scenarios, including LPG and ammonia, perfectly aligning with the global shipping industry's low-carbon transition and the upgrading of clean energy storage and transportation. The vessels incorporate advanced liquid cargo storage and transport systems and energy-saving designs, with safety performance, endurance, and cargo efficiency all reaching international leading standards. They can effectively meet the demand for stable, efficient, and green ocean transport of clean energy cargoes. Upon delivery, the vessels will be officially deployed on global clean energy shipping routes, providing core equipment support for the development of the international green shipping network.
The successful conclusion of this four-vessel Exmar 40,000 cbm LPG/ammonia carrier project is not merely a single-project achievement but a reflection of CIMC SOE's deep-rooted commitment to the clean energy vessel sector. Currently, the company continues to anchor itself in the high-end clean energy vessel niche, concentrating resources on technological innovation, process upgrades, and production efficiency improvements. Furthermore, leveraging its mature core tank technology, comprehensive construction system, and stringent quality control standards, CIMC SOE continuously iterates and optimizes its clean energy vessel products, covering multiple categories of clean energy storage and transport vessels such as LPG, ammonia, and ethylene glycol, forming a differentiated, large-scale, and high-end product layout.
Facing the global wave of green transformation in shipping, CIMC SOE will continue to uphold technological innovation, consistently build high-quality clean energy marine equipment, and contribute to the global shipping industry's advancement towards a new journey of low-carbon and sustainable development.
