China’s Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding has delivered the first of four LNG-powered bulk carriers to Taiwan’s shipowner U-Ming and charterer Anglo American, reports LNG Prime.
CSSC’s SWS said in a statement it had delivered the 190,000-dwt dual-fuel dry bulk carrier, Ubuntu Harmony, on December 19, some 90 days ahead of schedule.
This vessel completed its LNG trials and returned to the yard on December 7.
Virtual naming ceremony
After that, SWS held a virtual naming ceremony for both Ubuntu Harmony and its sister ship Ubuntu Equality on December 8. The shipbuilder is expected to deliver the second ship soon as well.
Back in September 2020, Anglo American signed a ten-year charter with U-Ming Marine Transport for four LNG-powered capesize vessels, introducing LNG into its chartered fleet for the first time.
Besides these two ships, SWS is also building sister vessels Ubuntu Integrity and Ubuntu Loyalty.
Anglo American said that the fleet’s name, Ubuntu, selected via an internal employee competition, is the Zulu word meaning “humanity to others”.
The DNV-classified bulk carriers are about 299.8 meters long and 47.5 meters wide and feature MAN Energy Solutions’ high-pressure ME-GI engines.
LNG supply deal
China’s Gloryholder Liquefied Gas Machinery also secured a deal last year to supply its LNG fuel system for the four bulk carriers.
The contract included the design and manufacture of two sets of type C LNG fuel tanks and LNG bunkering stations.
According to SWS, the fuel gas endurance reaches 20,000 nautical miles, allowing the vessels to complete two round-trip routes from China to Australia or one round-trip route from China to Brazil.
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Source: LNG Prime
