CIMC SOE Lands More LNG Bunker Orders
Nantong CIMC Pacific Offshore Engineering Co., Ltd. (CIMC SOE) has once again secured an order for 1+1 units of 20,000 CBM LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) bunker vessels from a European shipowner through Rensen-Driessen.
This marks the sixth order for this vessel type for CIMC SOE, making the 20,000 CBM LNG bunker vessel one of the largest LNG bunkering vessels globally. The new LNG bunker vessel is scheduled for delivery in September 2027, with the optional vessel set for delivery in December 2027 if confirmed.
CIMC SOE did not disclose the specific identity of the shipowner, only stating that the owner who placed this latest order had "signed a construction order for an LNG bunker vessel with the company in April this year." Previous foreign media reports indicated that CIMC SOE's April LNG bunkering vessel order came from Somtrans, a Belgian shipowner. This was Somtrans's first large LNG bunker vessel and its largest vessel by capacity.
According to Somtrans's official website, the company currently operates 24 inland bunkering vessels, including three dedicated LNG bunker vessels: the 13,461 CBM "Somtrans LNG" (built in 2019) and the 8,461 CBM "Swiss LNG I" and "Swiss LNG II" (both built in 2021).
This is the second order for the same vessel type that this particular shipowner has placed with CIMC SOE within two months. CIMC SOE emphasized that the continuous acquisition of orders for this vessel type not only demonstrates European clients' recognition of the company's design and construction capabilities for LNG bunker vessels but also highlights their trust in CIMC SOE.
The 20,000 CBM LNG bunker vessel is described as a leading vessel type in the global LNG bunkering market. It measures 160 meters in length overall, has a beam of 25 meters, and a design speed of 15.5 knots. Equipped with a WINGD dual-fuel main engine featuring iCER technology, it can also be optionally fitted with a high-voltage shore power system. These features significantly reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions throughout the vessel's lifecycle, effectively addressing the increasingly stringent environmental demands of the global shipping industry.
Unlike traditional LNG bunker vessels, this type has higher technical requirements, combining storage, transportation, and ship-to-ship bunkering functions. This allows it to flexibly serve port fuel replenishment and offshore floating storage needs. Furthermore, the CIMC SOE R&D team has meticulously optimized the cargo containment system for this vessel type, achieving a lower boil-off rate compared to similarly sized vessels on the market. This optimization leads to reduced operating costs, resulting in a "double harvest" of economic and environmental benefits.
CIMC SOE has earned high recognition from domestic and international clients through its exceptional design capabilities, efficient construction levels, and quality services. The signing of this sixth order further solidifies CIMC SOE's leading position in the international market for small and medium-sized liquefied gas carriers and bunker vessels. As the global shipping industry's demand for green fuels continues to grow, CIMC SOE will remain driven by technological innovation, pushing the R&D and application of clean fuel vessels (such as LNG, methanol, and liquid ammonia) to accelerate the shipping industry's journey toward a carbon-free future.
Excluding the latest order, Clarkson data indicates that CIMC SOE currently holds a total order book of 41 vessels, amounting to 553,000 deadweight tons. This includes 12 LNG bunker vessels, 10 LPG carriers, 8 offshore vessels, 6 general cargo vessels, 3 bulk carriers, and 2 container ships, with delivery dates extending to 2028.
