A unit of China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) has revealed plans to construct a 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel to cater to a growing demand for the fuel.
According to a tender released on Monday, CNOOC Energy Development is inviting domestic shipyards to submit offers for one bunkering vessel with two type C tanks.
The vessel would have dual-fuel propulsion or just pure gas engines. It would have the capability to reach the planned Wuhu LNG inland terminal in Anhui, along the Yangtze river.
Interested yards must submit their bids by November 24, while the entire project has to be completed by July 11, 2024, the tender says.
CNOOC has previously revealed plans for two types of LNG bunkering vessels. Back in 2019, it said it would build a 6000-cbm and a 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering ship.
After years of research and talks with yards, the state-owned firm has now issued a tender for its first LNG bunkering vessel.
This also follows a deal revealed last month where CNOOC said it had signed deals to supply liquefied natural gas to 150 LNG-powered vessels.
The LNG bunkering contract is the first of its kind in China including a large number of ships.
CNOOC’s gas and power unit signed a deal with Guangdong Province Navigation Group, parent of GNG Ocean Shipping which has this year ordered 50 small LNG-powered bulk carriers at CSSC’s Guijiang Shipbuilding.
In addition, CNOOC’s unit would supply liquefied natural gas to Guangxi Jinxiang Shipping’s 100 LNG-fueled vessels, it said.
All of the vessels would only have LNG propulsion and would work on the Pearl river in Guangdong province, CNOOC said.
