Malaysia’s top shipping line MISC has moved to grow its LNG fleet, signing up for up to six new liquefied natural gas carriers at China’s Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding. The deal covers three firm 174,000 cu m vessels plus options for three more, with all units set to be chartered out to national oil company Petronas on delivery.
The contract was signed by Hudong-Zhonghua together with China Shipbuilding Trading Co (CSTC), marking another high-profile LNG order flowing to Chinese yards early in the year. The first three+three vessels are already being lined up, with the total programme expected to reach 10 ships if all options are exercised, according to the yard.
MISC has grown into a diversified shipping group with a strong footprint in energy-related maritime services across Southeast Asia and beyond. LNG remains a core pillar of its fleet strategy, with the owner counting over 20 LNG carriers on the water, excluding newbuildings held through individual and joint venture structures.
The vessels will be built to Hudong-Zhonghua’s fifth-generation Changheng design. The newbuilds will feature a range of fuel-saving and emissions-reduction technologies, with the yard saying daily carbon emissions are cut by more than 10 tonnes and energy efficiency levels exceed current international benchmarks.
The design uses GTT’s NO96 Super+ containment system, aimed at delivering low boil-off rates and strong cargo performance. Hudong-Zhonghua said the balance of cargo capacity, fuel consumption and operational reliability has made the Changheng series a popular choice with LNG owners.
With MISC’s order added to the books, Hudong-Zhonghua now has more than 48 LNG carriers of this class on order, a record for vessels of this size and type.
The contract also underlines the strong start Chinese shipbuilders have made to 2026 in the LNG segment, alongside South Korean yards. It is the fourth LNG carrier order secured by domestic yards this year, taking the total to 13 firm ships plus five options.
Earlier in January, Jiangnan Shipyard booked two 175,000 cu m LNG carriers for Singapore’s Eastern Pacific Shipping, the first LNG order of the year for China’s yards. It was followed by Hudong-Zhonghua signing a four+two LNG carrier deal with Greece’s TMS Cardiff Gas. Just days ahead of the MISC announcement, Jiangnan also confirmed an order for four LNG carriers for Minsheng Financial Leasing, with the vessels to be chartered long term to Shell and commercially managed by Shandong Marine Energy.
