China on 28 January delivered a domestically designed 175,000 cubic metre liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier named Haihan from the CSSC Dalian yard to a vessel order placed by China Merchants. The ship was built by China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Dalian in partnership with CSSC Trade and represents a significant addition to the country’s commercial gas‑shipping fleet.
The Haihan’s cargo containment boasts a total capacity of 175,000 m³ and a reported daily boil‑off rate as low as 0.085 per cent, a metric that reduces cargo loss and operational cost during long voyages. The vessel is fitted with a new dual‑fuel low‑speed main engine that meets the International Maritime Organization’s most stringent emissions standards, enhancing fuel flexibility and cutting greenhouse‑gas and sulfur oxide outputs compared with older designs.
Large LNG carriers are a critical node in the global gas supply chain, carrying vast volumes between exporters such as Qatar, the United States and Australia and importing hubs in East Asia and Europe. In shipbuilding circles these vessels are routinely compared with aircraft carriers and luxury cruise ships as one of the industry’s “three jewels”; their design and construction demand high‑end engineering, cryogenic technology and sophisticated project management, so successful delivery is read as a test of industrial capability.
For China the Haihan’s completion is both a commercial and symbolic achievement. It signals that Chinese yards are no longer merely low‑cost producers of bulk carriers and container ships but can master complex, high‑value segments where South Korea and Japan have long dominated. The vessel also fortifies the balance sheets and operational reach of national shipping firms such as China Merchants, enabling them to control more of the logistics chain for LNG imports.
The delivery arrives at a moment of accelerating demand for LNG as countries pivot from coal and seek flexible gas supplies to back intermittent renewables. That market dynamic increases global demand for modern, efficient carriers able to comply with tightening emissions rules and reduce boil‑off losses. China’s ability to design and build such ships at home reduces reliance on foreign shipyards, supports domestic employment in advanced manufacturing and creates a potential export opportunity to other shipowners seeking competitive delivery times and price.
Despite the positive signal, questions remain about how quickly Chinese yards can scale up to displace established competitors on price, quality and delivery cadence for this high‑end segment. Nevertheless, the Haihan’s delivery is a concrete illustration of China’s ongoing climb up the shipbuilding value chain and its ambition to capture a larger share of the global market for vessels that underpin the energy transition.