China has gained another foothold in one of shipbuilding’s toughest segments with Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co (DSIC) delivering its first LNG carrier, the Sea Spirit, to China Merchants Energy Shipping.
The 175,000 cu m vessel was handed over in Dalian earlier this week, marking the yard’s entry into a sector long dominated by South Korea’s big three builders. LNG carriers are among the most technically challenging ships to construct, requiring advanced containment and reliquefaction systems as well as precise temperature and pressure management.
Parent company China State Shipbuilding Corporation hailed the vessel as part of the “crown jewel of the shipbuilding industry,” underlining the national prestige attached to cracking the LNG market. The Sea Spirit uses the widely deployed GTT Mark III membrane system, with DSIC stressing the ship’s adaptability to the majority of global terminals.
China Merchants ordered its first LNG newbuilds from DSIC in 2022 and has since expanded its programme to eight ships. The Sea Spirit will be managed by OPearl, a joint venture between China Merchants, CNOOC and NYK, which is tasked with running LNG tonnage for CNOOC’s trading arm.
At present, Hudong–Zhonghua remains the only Chinese yard with an established track record of delivering large LNG carriers, but DSIC’s Sea Spirit delivery makes it the second proven yard in that category. Jiangnan is not far behind, with QatarEnergy orders ensuring its place in the LNG club.
