Advanced LNG carrier commissioned in China
At the delivery ceremony (from left): Ilias Tsonos, DNV Area Operations Support Manager for China South, Chen, Keng, DNV Area Manager for China South, Kim, Tae Hyung, DNV Project Manager, Norbert Kray, DNV Regional Manager for Greater China, Jessica Li, DNV Station Manager Shanghai, Pawan Sahni, DNV Business Development Director for Middle East & Africa, Liu, Yaoyong, DNV Area Business Development Manager for China South
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Jiangnan Shipyard, and DNV have celebrated the naming and delivery of the 175,000m3 Al Shelila, the first in a series of large-scale Mark III Flex membrane LNG carriers. The ship is claimed to be one of the most innovative vessels ever built in China, with an optimised hull, high-efficiency propellers, twin skegs, and an air lubrication system.
The vessel has two WinGD 5X72DF-2.1 engines with Intelligent Control by Exhaust Recycling (iCER) system to reduce methane slip, a GTT Mark III Flex membrane cargo tank system with a 0.085% daily boil-off rate, two shaft generators, and the Jiangnan Intelligent Ship System for real-time energy optimisation.
ADNOC Logistics and Services CEO, Captain Abdulkareem Al Masabi, commented: “We are proud to take delivery of ‘Al Shelila,’ from Jiangnan Shipyard. In Arabic, ‘Shelila’ represents strength and grace, qualities that reflect the legacy of our forefathers’ vessels. As we expand our fleet to meet rising global demand for natural gas, our deepening partnership with Jiangnan Shipyard underscores the strong industrial ties between the UAE and China, reinforcing our shared commitment to powering global economic growth, and we commend DNV for their expert consultation in the design of this world-class vessel.”
Chairman of Jiangnan Shipyard, Lin Ou, said: “With the great trust and support of ADNOC L&S, DNV, GTT and all relevant parties, Jiangnan has completed the construction of China’s first Mark III type large LNG carrier two months ahead of schedule. As a leading global shipbuilding company specialised in the full series of gas carriers, Jiangnan has demonstrated our comprehensive shipbuilding ability again. We are committed to delivering the upcoming series of LNG carriers, VLEC, and VLAC on time with good quality, to better support ADNOC L&S to achieve its drive for fleet expansion and further deepen our strategic cooperation with ADNOC.”
Speaking for DNV, Norbert Kray, regional manager for Maritime Greater China, said: “We are very proud of the support we have been able to provide to the Jiangnan shipyard in the highly challenging large LNG segment. We have worked closely together with ADNOC and Jiangnan to find solutions that can help realise the project with maximum efficiency, while maintaining compliance to our rigorous class rules and the relevant industry standards. That we have been collectively able to deliver on such a highly ambitious timeline is a fantastic achievement and demonstrates that there is a bright future for Chinese-built LNG carriers.”
DNV set up a Gas Carrier and Alternative Fuels Expert Team at its Shanghai facility in 2022.
