Recently, Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "CIMC SOE") signed a letter of intent with Fuzhou Wuyang Refined Oil Trading Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Wuyang Oil Transport") in Qidong, Jiangsu, for the construction of 1+1, 12000 cubic meter LNG transport and bunkering vessels.

The 12000 m³ LNG transport and bunkering vessel is designed for versatile applications. Its "one ship, multiple supply" mode can effectively enhance bunkering operation efficiency, reduce vessel operating costs, and shorten port stay times for customer vessels, thereby highlighting its competitive edge in the industry. As a clean and low-carbon fuel, LNG offers cost advantages and mature technology, making it an ideal decarbonization solution for international large shipping companies. This not only promotes green energy development but also significantly contributes to achieving China's "peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality" goals and advancing energy conservation and emission reduction in the shipping industry.

The project vessel adopts a vertical bow design with IMO 2G C-type cargo tanks, designed for a temperature of -163°C, with each tank having a capacity of approximately 6,000 cubic meters and a total volume of about 12,000 cubic meters. The cargo containment system is Type C. The vessel features a shallow draft design, equipped with an advanced electric propulsion system and two azimuth thrusters at the stern, along with a bow thruster, enabling flexible maneuvering in narrow inland waterways. These designs provide excellent handling, autonomous berthing performance, speed, and compatibility with ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore operations. Additionally, the vessel is capable of navigating in ice class B areas and has positioning capabilities equivalent to DP2 under design sea conditions, with a fully loaded draft speed of approximately 13 knots and a design service life of 30 years.

This dual-purpose "green energy vessel", which can both transport and bunker LNG, will be able to undertake ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore bunkering services, reverse transfer/liquid replenishment services, and provide full-process professional services such as inerting, cold conditioning, and gas trials for large LNG-powered ships before they leave the factory. Upon completion, the vessel will primarily handle domestic and international port transportation, coastal LNG-powered vessel bunkering, inland bunkering stations, and LNG transshipment at Yangtze River terminals, injecting new momentum into energy structure optimization, green and low-carbon transformation, and high-quality socio-economic development.

The collaboration between CIMC SOE and Wuyang Oil Transport represents another proactive exploration into future green shipping models, aligning with global trends in energy structure changes. It is hoped that the successful construction and operation of this vessel will promote the application of clean and low-carbon energy in the domestic and international shipping industries, contributing to the development of a new, sustainable shipping market.