Exmar has confirmed that the keel has been laid for a new LNG bunkering vessel under construction at CIMC Group's shipyard in Qidong, China.

The Belgian shipping and gas infrastructure company announced the development via its LinkedIn page, noting that the vessel is expected to be delivered next year, at which point it will join the fleet managed by Exmar Ship Management.

As previously reported, Exmar recently named the Antwerpen and Arlon — described by the group as the world’s first ocean-going ammonia dual-fuel gas carriers.

CIMC Group, headquartered in Shenzhen, China, operates a number of shipbuilding facilities across the country, including the Qidong yard where the keel-laying took place.

Exmar is a Belgium-based gas shipping group operating LPG and ammonia carriers as well as LNG production, storage and regasification assets.