QatarEnergy orders 8 Q-Max LNG carriers at Hudong-Zhonghua

The order valued at over $2.4 billion, is for eight vessels capacity of 271,000 cubic metres making them the world’s largest, are part of QatarEnergy’s “Hundred Ships Programme”. The latest newbuilding are set to be delivered between 2028 and 2029.

The deal, reportedly finalised last month, follows QatarEnergy’s September 2023 announcement of plans to order 15 Q-Max ultra-large LNG carriers from Chinese and South Korean shipyards. Of these, eight will be constructed by Hudong Zhonghua, with negotiations ongoing for the remaining seven vessels.

Chinese yards have made significant gains in the LNG carrier sector over the last few years although Korean yards remain the dominant force.

The construction contract is yet to be confirmed by QatarEnergy.

In 2020, Hudong Zhonghua agreed with QatarEnergy to reserve construction capacity for the company’s planned LNG carrier fleet. The initial ships were ordered two years later.

In the first phase of the programme, a total of 60 ships were ordered at Korean and Chinese shipyards.