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LNG Bunkering

China Classification Society: ‘Incredible progress’ on Chinese LNG sector in decade

The General Manager of China Classification Society Singapore Branch shares with Manifold Times how far the country has progressed in the use of LNG as a marine fuel.
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China has made “incredible progress” in the field of liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessel construction and the use of LNG as a marine fuel within the past decade, says the General Manager of China Classification Society (CCS) Singapore Branch.

“In 2008, the first large LNG carrier was built in Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard, marking the beginning of China’s entry into the LNG newbuilding market,” Jiang Botao told Singapore bunker publication Manifold Times in an exclusive interview.

“The past ten years saw more than 20 LNG carriers of various sizes and more than 200 LNG-fuelled ships sailing out of Chinese yards.

“Today, China is capable of building any LNG-related ship type, including large ice class LNG carriers, LNG FSRUs (floating storage regasification units), LNG power barges, floating LNG facilities, large LNG-fuelled ships, and more.”

According to Jiang, a total of more than 400 LNG-fuelled ships are either currently in operation or confirmed in the global orderbook as of October 2018.

Several of such LNG-powered vessels are currently under construction in China; this includes CMA CGM’s nine 22,000 TEUs containerships being constructed at China State Shipbuilding Corporation, Forward Maritime’s 20 dry bulk carriers at Jiangsu Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Group, and Siem Car Carriers’ two Ro-Ro vessels, the world’s largest, at Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry.

“China’s government is always proactive in promoting the application of LNG as a marine fuel while encouraging the industry to carry out related R&D (research and development) projects,” he shares.

“China has already established a comprehensive regulatory and standard framework for waterborne LNG application, from LNG production at sea, LNG transportation, distribution, bunkering and as a marine fuel.

“Further, the country has its own gas engine manufacturer, tank providers, fuel gas supply system suppliers, and thousands of experts and factories in the marine LNG field to support the national gas ecosystem.”

As of this June, China has 280 LNG-fuelled ships in operation (including newbuildings and retrofitted vessels), and 19 LNG bunkering stations including onshore refuelling facilities and floating bunkering pontoons located mostly along Yangtze River, Pearl River and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand canal, notes Jiang.

The China Ministry of Transport has also set a national plan to have more than 10% newbuild river and river-to-sea commercial ships, and more than 15% newbuild public service ships, including China Maritime Safety Administration enforcement ships and patrol boats, to consume LNG as a fuel by 2025.

To support the plan, it will establish a preliminary LNG bunkering network by 2020 to support future LNG-powered ships.

Dalian Shipbuilding Industry (DSI) and ENN Group in October 2018 entered into a newbuilding contract to construct an 8,500 cubic metre (m3) capacity LNG bunkering tanker.

The 8,500 m3 ENN Group bunkering vessel is the largest to use type ‘C’ LNG tanks when compared to existing LNG bunkering tankers (using similar tank systems) such as Babcock Schulte Energy’s 7,500 m3 Kairos delivered on Oct 25, 2018 and Shell’s 6,500 m3 capacity Cardissa which entered into operations since 2017.

“The design, fabrication, testing and inspection of type ‘C’ LNG tank is very mature in China and the cost of such tanks is much lower than other types such as a membrane tank or type ‘B’ tank,” explains Jiang.

“Besides easier installation, a type ‘C’ tank is able to hold the boil-off gas (BOG) pressure without additional treatment systems or equipment for the bunkering vessel.”

Apart from bunkering, the multi-function ENN Group vessel will be able to provide LNG carrier precooling and gas-testing services to LNG carriers and large LNG-fuelled ships; it will also be equipped with an onboard gas combustion unit (GCU) to treat the possible excessive gas (e.g. return from the LNG-fuelled ships) or excessive BOG in its own tanks.

“To reduce the waste of BOG while ensuring high manoeuvrability, the LNG bunkering tanker will be equipped with a dual fuel engine with controllable pitch propeller (CPP),” he adds.

“As a reliable mooring system is vital to a bunkering vessel, an optimized system for ship-to-ship mooring will be adopted for this vessel.”

The ENN Group LNG bunkering tanker is scheduled for delivery in 2020; it will support LNG operations at a newly opened Zhoushan LNG import and distribution terminal in China’s eastern Zhejiang province, and complement LNG bunkering operations at Zhoushan port when delivered.

Related: ENN Energy orders 8,500 m3 LNG bunkering tanker to support terminal ops
Related: LNG bunkering well organised and rapidly developing in China
Related: China: Ministry of Transport outlines draft LNG bunkering strategy

Photo credit: China Classification Society (CCS) Singapore Branch
Published: 5 November, 2018
 

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LNG Bunkering

PIL’s LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

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July 21, 2026

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PIL's LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd on Monday (20 July) said its first 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Elok, recently made her maiden call to Singapore on 15 July.

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. 

The vessel also incorporated energy-saving features and digital technologies to reduce fuel consumption and enhance operational performance, as well as a bow windshield to improve aerodynamics, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions over the course of long-haul voyages.

“Following Singapore, Kota Elok will continue her voyage on our East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route to South America, calling at ports in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina before returning to Asia,” the company said in a social media post. 

Kota Elok also became PIL’s first vessel to receive Lloyd’s Register certification for compliance with the IACS UR E26 and UR E27 cyber security requirements.

Developed by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), UR E26 and UR E27 are mandatory cyber resilience requirements for newbuild vessels contracted from 1 July 2024. 

 

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 21 July, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s alternative fuel bunkering infrastructure.
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July 21, 2026

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CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

China’s Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co., Ltd. (CIMC SOE) recently signed a contract with Sinopec (Beijing) Clean Energy Co., Ltd. to build a 12,000-cubic metre (m3) LNG bunkering vessel, according to Chinese maritime media.

The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2028 and will support Sinopec’s efforts to expand its presence in the marine clean energy sector.

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s LNG bunkering infrastructure.

With this signing , CIMC Pacific Offshore Engineering’s LNG bunkering vessel orderbook is further strengthened, maintaining its leading position in the global market for small and medium-sized LNG bunkering vessels.

The contract also marked another milestone for CIMC SOE, which has seen a sharp increase in orders and business performance this year amid a surge in domestic LNG vessel demand.

 

Photo credit: Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering
Published: 21 July, 2026

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Alternative Fuels

ENGINE on Fuel Switch Snapshot: LSMGO surges to greater premium over biofuel

B100 discount to LSMGO widens to $541/mt in Rotterdam; Singapore’s B100 drops to $106/mt below LSMGO; Rotterdam LBM at $639-833/mt discounts to LSMGO.
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July 21, 2026

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ENGINE on Fuel Switch Snapshot: LSMGO surges to greater premium over biofuel

Once a week, bunker intelligence platform ENGINE will publish a snapshot of alternative and conventional bunker fuel prices in the world’s two biggest bunkering hubs. The following is the latest snapshot:

20 July 2026

  • B100 discount to LSMGO widens to $541/mt in Rotterdam
  • Singapore’s B100 drops to $106/mt below LSMGO
  • Rotterdam LBM at $639-833/mt discounts to LSMGO

B100’s premium over HSFO in Rotterdam has narrowed by $50/mt over the past week to $64/mt, while its discount to VLSFO has widened by $83/mt to $105/mt.

B100 has become far more competitive against LSMGO in Rotterdam, with its discount widening by $180/mt over the past week to $541/mt, as a surge in conventional fuel prices left B100 broadly unchanged by comparison.

B100’s price has risen by $109/mt in Singapore, but its discount to LSMGO has still widened by $102/mt to $106/mt, as LSMGO surged by an even greater $211/mt.

Rotterdam’s LNG premium over VLSFO has widened by $35/mt to $201/mt for vessels with Otto medium speed (Otto MS) engines. For vessels with diesel slow speed (diesel SS) engines, LNG has flipped to a $15/mt premium over VLSFO, from a $22/mt discount the prior week.

Liquefied biomethane (LBM) discounts to VLSFO in Rotterdam have narrowed by $50-52/mt to $203-396/mt over the past week. Against LSMGO, LBM discounts have widened by $45-47/mt to $639-833/mt, depending on engine type.

In Singapore, LNG is now $42/mt cheaper than LSMGO for vessels with Otto MS engines, and $134/mt cheaper for vessels with diesel SS engines.

ENGINE on Fuel Switch Snapshot: LSMGO surges to greater premium over biofuel

Liquid fuels

HSFO and VLSFO prices in Rotterdam have jumped by $66/mt and $99/mt respectively over the past week, while LSMGO has surged by an even steeper $196/mt. A $9.69/bbl ($71/mt) rise in front-month ICE Brent futures, to $87.94/bbl ($645/mt), drove bunker prices sharply higher across the board.

Bunker fuel availability is tight for prompt delivery dates in the ARA ports, with buyers advised to enquire about stems between 5-7 days ahead to get good coverage, a trader said.

Rotterdam’s B100 price has risen by $16/mt over the past week. Dutch ZRE A ticket prices were unchanged at €107.50/mtCO2e.

Singapore’s HSFO and VLSFO prices have risen by $130/mt and $132/mt respectively, while its LSMGO price has gained an even steeper $211/mt over the past week.

VLSFO availability in Singapore has been tight, with several suppliers reporting low stock levels. Recommended lead times have widened from 13–17 days last week to 14–19 days now.

Liquid gases

Rotterdam’s LNG prices have surged by $134-136/mt over the past week, while its LBM prices have climbed by $149-151/mt.

LBM discounts to LNG in Rotterdam have narrowed by $15/mt to $404-411/mt.

Singapore’s LNG bunker benchmarks have surged by $196-197/mt over the past week.

By Erik Hoffmann

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 21 July, 2026

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