Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering (CIMC SOE) has reported construction progress on three separate LNG bunker vessel projects.

On 13 October, CIMC SOE commenced construction on an 18,900-cbm LNG bunker vessel, designated S1152, for Singapore-based shipowner Purus Marine. The vessel is one of three in a series that will be chartered to Shell for LNG bunkering operations, CIMC SOE noted.

Witnesses at the steel-cutting event included Andriy Shalupenko, SMC site manager; Tae Hyung Kim, DNV gas expert; Li Hongguang, DNV site manager; and Chen Bin, deputy general manager of the shipbuilding business division.

CIMC SOE noted that the project extends its LNG bunker vessel product range to cover capacities of 12,000 cbm, 12,500 cbm, 18,900 cbm and 20,000 cbm.

A separate project saw the keel laid on 15 October for a 20,000-cbm LNG bunker vessel, designated S1125, being built for Vitol International Shipping.

Witnesses included Lu Fuyang, deputy project manager at supervision company Lima Shipping Pte Ltd; Kim Jaehong, site manager; Tae Hyung Kim, DNV gas expert; Liu Changting, head of the block erection department at CIMC SOE; and Yan Kai, deputy director of the shipbuilding project management department. Keel laying marks the transition from block fabrication to berth erection in the shipbuilding process.

Additionally, as previously reported, on 12 October CIMC SOE launched the 20,000-cbm LNG bunker vessel Avenir Allegiance, designated S1124, built for Avenir LNG Limited.

CIMC SOE said the projects demonstrate its capacity for parallel construction and series delivery, as it continues to expand its presence in the shipbuilding sector.