On September 10, a naming ceremony was held in Changxing Island, Shanghai, for the first vessel named “Rex Tillerson” and the second vessel named “Umm Ghuwailina” which are part of Qatar Energy’s LNG transportation project.

The building contract for seven 174,000-cubic-meter LNG carriers was jointly won by COSCO SHIPPING LNG Investment (Shanghai), a subsidiary of COSCO SHIPPING Energy, and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) in 2022. These vessels were constructed by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd. and will be utilized for the Northern Gas Field Expansion Project (NFXP) developed by Qatar Energy. Since the initiation of the project, COSCO SHIPPING and MOL have collaborated with Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Group to build high-quality ships, paying close attention to the quality, safety, and progress of ship construction. The project’s first ship, “Rex Tillerson”, and the second ship, “Umm Ghuwailina”, are expected to be delivered for operation soon, becoming the first vessels to join NFXP’s newbuilding fleet.

The “Rex Tillerson” and “Umm Ghuwailina” represent the fifth generation of the “Changheng series” 174,000-cubic-meter LNG carriers independently developed and designed by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Group. These vessels embody the latest design concepts in the industry, combining excellent hydrodynamic characteristics with exceptional versatility. These vessels, with a total length of 299 meters, a beam of 46.4 meters, and a depth of 26.25 meters, have been specifically designed to meet the rigorous technical standards set by Qatar Energy for its operation of the world’s largest LNG fleet. The ships incorporate the latest generation of double stern fin lines and are equipped with a host of low-carbon and digital technologies. They boast rapid performance, reduced sailing emissions, a high level of automation, and increased cargo capacity.