COSCO Shipping Energy announced on 9 November that its wholly owned subsidiary Hainan Energy has signed shipbuilding contracts with Yangzhou COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry for six LNG dual-fuel-ready very large crude carriers of 309,000 dwt each at structural draught, for a total consideration of about RMB 5.689 billion (roughly RMB 948 million per vessel). Delivery is scheduled between August 2029 and November 2030. The announcement states the vessels adopt LNG dual-fuel READY clean-power arrangements together with energy-saving and intelligent systems.
Why this order matters to equipment suppliers
A dual-fuel-ready design means space and interfaces must be reserved at the design stage for later conversion. On such vessels the compressed-air system typically serves several distinct duties at once — starting air, instrument and control air, deck service air and nitrogen-generator feed — each with its own pressure and purity requirement. If those duties are not separated early, later conversion usually means re-laying baseframes and pipework.
Three items to work backwards from the delivery window
- Class approval route: pressure-part materials, survey method and onboard documentation are set by the class society; approval lead time belongs in the build schedule, not at the sea-trial stage.
- Cooling method: engine-room ventilation and seawater availability decide air versus water cooling. Air-cooled sets suit well-ventilated spaces up to 45 °C; high-power continuous duty favours water cooling.
- Interface commonality: keeping one baseframe and flange pattern across a sister-ship series cuts docking and commissioning work on later hulls.
How we approach it
On sister-ship projects Shengyi first confirms six items — flow, pressure, cooling water, power supply, class society and delivery port — then issues the sizing and approval route. We hold CCS type approval, BV Mode II, ABS and RS approvals, with design and survey coverage across 10+ class societies and delivered-vessel certificates for LR, KR and RINA.
At a glance
| Duty | Typical pressure | Quality | Sizing note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting air | 3.0 MPa (30 bar) | Intermittent; reliability first | Piston set; size by bottle charging time |
| Instrument / control air | 0.7–0.8 MPa | Dry and clean; PDP per process | Screw + desiccant dryer + precision filters |
| Deck service air | 0.7–1.0 MPa | General industrial grade | About 10% margin over peak demand |
| Nitrogen-generator feed | 0.8–1.3 MPa | Oil carry-over shortens generator life | Continuous duty; water cooling preferred |
Frequently asked
When are these vessels delivered?
The announcement states delivery between August 2029 and November 2030 for six vessels of 309,000 dwt each at structural draught.
What does “LNG dual-fuel ready” mean?
Space and interfaces are reserved at design stage for later LNG conversion — described in the announcement as LNG dual-fuel READY. For equipment suppliers it means conversion allowance must be considered in layout and interfaces.
Must marine compressors be oil-free?
Not all of them. Instrument air and nitrogen feed are oil-sensitive and need oil-free or high-efficiency removal; deck service air is usually general industrial grade. The owner’s specification and class rules prevail.
How long does approval take?
It depends on the society and project scope. Pressure-part materials, survey method and onboard documents must be confirmed early; the lead time belongs in the build schedule rather than just before sea trials.
Sources
Facts and figures are quoted from the public reports below; the commentary is our own analysis.
- (in Chinese) (in Chinese) 2026-11-09 Read the source
- (in Chinese) (in Chinese) 2026-11-09 Read the source
Images are Shengyi own photographs; no third-party images are reproduced.
Author：Shengyi Technical Department Reviewed by：Mr. Zhang (Sales & Sizing) Updated 2026-11-09