Dalian Shipbuilding, DNV GL to develop LNG-powered ultra large containership

China’s Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company and classification society DNV GL said on Wednesday that they signed a joint development project agreement to develop a new 23,000 TEU LNG-fuelled ultra large container vessel.

The project is focused on delivering a design which is ready for construction and reflects upcoming market trends and incoming regulations, according to a joint statement.

Interest in alternative fuels has moved from the margins to the centre of the maritime world as environmental regulations designed to reduce shipping’s emissions to air come into effect.

For many operational uses, the combination of technical maturity, efficiency, availability, and emissions reduction mean that liquefied natural gas (LNG) is now a viable solution, the statement said.

“In developing this new 23,000 TEU LNG fuelled ULCV design, we will show that DSIC can deliver vessels at the cutting edge of the market after two 20,000 TEU container vessels were successfully delivered to COSCO SHIPPING Group this year,” Yang Zhi Zhong, President of Dalian Shipbuilding said.

“We see a continuing strong market for ULCV vessels, with lower slot costs especially valued on the main trading routes. At the same time the expansion in bunkering infrastructure in both China and Europe means that LNG is becoming a viable solution for container vessels, lowering costs and ensuring compliance with incoming regulations,” he said.