Chinese LNG-Fuelled Bulk Carrier Gets Design Approval

UK-based ship classification agency Lloyd’s Register (LR) said June 6 it presented approval in principle (AiP) to Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS) for its LNG dual-fuelled 210,000 dwt bulk carrier design.

SWS and LR have agreed to jointly develop the carrier design. SWS produced the design and updated it to incorporate LNG propulsion, based on their existing conventional 210,000 dwt bulk carrier. LR provided assistance and support, in terms of the LNG fuel system application and verifying the design against the IGF code, LR’s Gas Fuelled Rules as well as other relevant applicable standards, LR said.

“SWS has an extensive reference list for designing and building large Capesize bulk carriers. The experience and know-how that has been built to-date has been utilised to develop this latest world class design – LNG-powered Newcastlemax bulk carrier. This design enables the lowest possible fuel consumption and allows owners to select a design that will meet the future SOx emission challenge,” Chen Gang, commercial director of SWS, said.

He added, “We are extremely happy to cooperate with one of the leading class societies, LR, for the development of this design and it will be very exciting to see how the market responds.”

SWS, founded in 1999, is a wholly owned subsidiary of China CSSC Holding, a publicly listed company controlled by China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).