The world's largest liquid natural gas (LNG) carrier developed by China's Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) under the China State Shipbuilding Corporation has won approval in principles (AiP) from multiple major classification societies, marking another step forward for China's shipbuilding ability. 

During Gastech 2023, an exhibition covering natural gas, LNG, hydrogen, low-carbon solutions, and climate technology, held in Singapore on Tuesday, the Hudong-Zhonghua's 271,000 cubic-meter LNG carrier was granted AIPs from American Bureau of Shipping, Lloyd's Register from the UK, French Bureau Veritas and Norwegian Det Norske Veritas, Hudong-Zhonghua told the Global Times on Tuesday. 

The LNG carrier has the world's largest capacity of 271,000 cubic meters, about 57 percent more than regular LNG carriers with maximum capacity of 174,000 cubic meters. The large capacity doesn't affect the LNG's mobility, which is adaptable for 70 global shore stations and major sea routes. 

The carrier can transport 155 million cubic meters of natural gas at a time, which can meet the gas consumption demand of 4.7 million households in Shanghai for one month. 

In terms of energy cost, Hudong-Zhonghua said the carbon intensity indicator of Hudong-Zhonghua's carrier is 23 percent lower than a regular LNG carrier, and can save 9.9 percent of energy in transporting one ton of cargo per nautical mile.

As the global LNG market remains highly active, Hudong-Zhonghua has delivered over 40 LNG carriers and support vessels. The volume of LNG carriers order on hand is now over 50, with a production schedule extending to 2028, the company said.