Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co., Ltd (CIMC SOE) and Sinopec (Beijing) Clean Energy Co., Ltd. have signed a construction contract for a 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel, according to a CIMC SOE announcement.

The vessel will be built by CIMC SOE and is scheduled for delivery and entry into commercial operation in 2028. Once operational, it will be used to address gaps in China’s coastal LNG bunkering infrastructure and expand the country’s LNG bunkering service network along its coastline, CIMC SOE explained.

Under the terms of the agreement, both parties will collaborate on the vessel’s research and development, with CIMC SOE responsible for construction. The company said it would manage project scheduling, quality control and overall vessel performance throughout the build process.

CIMC SOE noted that the contract further strengthens its order book in the small- and medium-sized LNG bunkering vessel segment, adding that the broader industry has seen a surge in LNG vessel orders this year, and that it has secured multiple new projects as a result.