Posted on June 10, 2026
By Ma Jingjing
Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co Ltd, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corp Ltd (CSSC), said on Tuesday that it has officially commenced construction of the world’s first and largest 271,000 cubic meter QC-Max ultra-large liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, according to media reports on Tuesday.
This is a milestone achievement in the high-end development of China’s shipbuilding industry and serves as a landmark event in the nation’s steady progress toward becoming a global shipbuilding powerhouse. Against the backdrop of volatile geopolitics and a complex global trade environment, this development significantly bolsters domestic and international market confidence in the stable growth of the entire LNG industrial chain, an analyst said.
The 271,000 cubic meter LNG carrier will feature an industry-leading comprehensive performance. With an overall length of 344 meters, it will be equipped with the latest upgraded NO96 Super+ membrane containment system, achieving all-round iterative upgrades in key performance indicators such as cargo capacity, energy efficiency, and navigation safety. Compared with the mainstream 174,000 cubic meter conventional vessels currently on the market, the new design will increase capacity by 57 percent, according to Hudong-Zhonghua.
Fitted with an efficient dual-fuel power system and optimized with refined hydrodynamic hull lines, the ship will have significantly improved energy consumption per unit of transport capacity and reduced carbon emissions. It fully complies with the stringent International Maritime Organization Tier III environmental regulations, offering outstanding advantages of large capacity, low energy consumption, low-carbon sustainability, safety, and reliability. Furthermore, it will be compatible with the vast majority of major LNG terminals worldwide, ensuring broad adaptability for ocean routes, the company said.
“The start of construction on this flagship engineering marvel stands as a powerful testament to the strength of China’s shipbuilding industry. The country has achieved a sweeping transformation in its domestic large‑scale LNG carrier program – evolving from a single breakthrough in core technology to a coordinated leap across the entire industrial chain,” Li Changan, an economist at the University of International Business and Economics, told the Global Times on Tuesday.
Against the backdrop of volatile geopolitical dynamics and a complex global trade environment, this milestone has significantly bolstered market confidence – both at home and abroad – in the resilient development of the entire LNG industrial chain, Li said.
Often regarded as the “crown jewels” of the shipbuilding industry, LNG carriers require extremely high research and development and manufacturing thresholds and complex industrial chain requirements. Leveraging independently controlled core technologies, a complete localized upstream and downstream industrial chain, and scaled mass production experience, Hudong-Zhonghua has orders on hand for nearly 60 LNG carriers. Based on total capacity, its order book ranks first globally, with production slots fully booked until after 2030. Its product portfolio covers the full spectrum of conventional large and ultra-large LNG carriers.
Driven by capacity expansion, China’s share of the global LNG shipbuilding sector has surpassed 30 percent, breaking the long-standing monopoly previously held by foreign firms. This reinforces the foundation of domestic LNG industry autonomy amid a complex international geo-economic landscape and further solidifies the long-term development confidence of enterprises across the industrial chain.
Construction of the world’s largest LNG carriers will effectively help address the global shortfall in LNG shipping capacity and help stabilize the international clean-energy supply chain. Hudong-Zhonghua said that it will steadily advance the construction of the first vessel, scheduled for delivery in 2028, and fulfill the entire series of contracts on schedule with superior quality. With its exceptional capabilities, the company aims to safeguard the security and stability of the global energy industrial chain and accelerate the green transformation of international shipping.
