299 metres long, a deck area the size of three football pitches, CO₂ emissions cut by 10 tons per day, and load factor up to 98.5 percent

As reported by CCTV+, on Friday, China delivered its first large-scale liquefied natural gas carrier equipped with domestically produced ultra-low temperature valves for the cargo containment system. This is a major breakthrough in establishing a complete production chain for LNG carriers — from materials and design to auxiliary equipment.

The carrier, named Puteri Johor, was built by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation. The vessel is 299 metres long and 46.4 metres wide. Its deck area is equivalent to three standard football pitches.

The ship is equipped with four cargo tanks and can carry 174,000 cubic metres of LNG in a single voyage. After regasification, this volume is enough to supply 3.3 million households for a month.

Wu An, the vessel’s chief designer, noted: “The energy efficiency, cargo capacity and reliability of the ship have reached world-class levels. It uses the world’s most advanced cargo containment system and a dual-fuel low-speed propulsion system. Carbon dioxide emissions have been reduced by about 10 tons per day, fuel and gas consumption has fallen by 10 percent, and the load factor has increased from 98 percent to 98.5 percent.”

A seemingly modest 0.5 percentage point increase in load factor allows the ship to carry an additional 900 cubic metres of LNG per voyage — about 500 tons — reducing transport costs.

For the first time, the cargo containment system — the key component that keeps LNG below minus 163 degrees Celsius — is fully equipped with domestically produced ultra-low temperature valves.

Wu added: “The vessel has excellent seakeeping qualities. Thanks to its advanced containment system, it can operate on more than 90 percent of the world’s sea routes. It also has excellent port adaptability and can deliver cargoes to more than 120 ports worldwide.”

After delivery, the Puteri Johor will begin operating on sea routes between Malaysia and China.

299 metres of steel. 174,000 cubic metres of gas. 3.3 million homes. China has built a carrier that not only transports LNG — it transports it cheaper, cleaner and farther. Domestic valves withstand minus 163 degrees. A load factor of 98.5 percent. Emissions cut by 10 tons of CO₂ per day. This is not just a ship. It is technological sovereignty. China no longer depends on imports of key components. It designs, builds and equips itself. The question is not whether this carrier will sail. It will. The question is how many such vessels will be launched in the coming years. While others are still catching up, China is already transporting. And saving. And cutting emissions. And building the next one.