Hudong-Zhonghua Begins Building Largest LNG Carrier

Hudong-Zhonghua has cut steel on the first 271,000-cbm QC-Max LNG carrier, the world’s largest LNG carrier by cargo capacity. This vessel is part of QatarEnergy’s expansion programme, which includes 24 QC-Max units and 12 conventional 174,000-cbm LNG carriers. The project involves multiple stakeholders such as Nakilat, China Merchants Energy Shipping, Shandong Marine Energy, CLNG, MOL, and COSCO SHIPPING LNG Investment, highlighting its strategic importance. For China’s shipbuilding industry, this marks entry into constructing the largest LNG carrier design, requiring advanced cryogenic systems, containment technology, dual-fuel propulsion, and complex project management. As Qatar increases its LNG export capacity, these large carriers will support the next generation of long-haul LNG transportation infrastructure.