The certification ceremony of the world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrying and bunkering vessel, HAI GANG WEI LAI, classed by China Classification Society (CCS), was commenced in Shanghai on January 24, 2022. Meng Lingyi, the general manager of CCS Shanghai Branch, Xu Longping, the chairman of Shanghai SIPG Energy Service Co., Ltd, and other stakeholders from both sides attended the ceremony. The general manager Meng Lingyi, on behalf of CCS, granted the class certificate of HAI GANG WEI LAI to the ship-owning company, marking that the world’s largest LNG carrying and bunkering vessel has been officially classed by CCS.

HAI GANG WEI LAI is not only a world's largest LNG carrying and bunkering vessel, but also China’s first LNG carrying and bunkering vessel capable of bunkering international navigation ships. Moreover, it is the first LNG carrying and bunkering vessel classed by CCS.

Independent Type-C LNG tanks are used in the vessel as cargo holds. The ship, with a total length of 159.79 meters, breadth of 24 meters and depth of 16.75 meters, is characterized by safety, little environmental impact and low evaporation rate. In addition to carrying LNG, the ship is capable of bunkering LNG for other ships and terminals. The ship has obtained class notations granted by CCS, such as LNG Carrier and LNG Bunkering Ship.

HAI GANG WEI LAI is equipped with dual-fuel main engine together with dual-fuel auxiliary engine, which make use of the vaporized gas of LNG cargo as the main fuel. Its fuel consumption, tank capacity, LNG bunkering and other parameters are well designed. The environmental requirements for the ship meet the latest global emission standards. The bow/stern thrusters and controllable-pitch propeller enhance its maneuverability.

Equipped with 4 bunkering stations and 2 receiving stations, the ship is estimated to provide reinforced flexibility and safety in LNG bunkering operation. For the treatment of vaporized gas of liquid cargo, in addition to being stored by pressurized cargo tank and consumed by machines, there is also a gas combustion device, which can further enhance the treatment capacity of vaporized gas and received return gas, making the operation more convenient and safer.

With the acceleration of "peak carbon dioxide emissions and carbon neutrality", the concepts of greenhouse gas emissions reduction, green and sustainable development have been widely accepted by and applied to the shipping industry. An increasing number of dual-fuel ships put into service lead to an increasing demand for LNG bunkering.

The operation of Hai Gang Wei Lai has filled the gap of domestic bonded LNG bunkering for international navigation ships. This is of great significance for Shanghai to create a world-class business environment, improve its service function of Shanghai's ports, assure passage & smoothness, and strengthen the comprehensive competitiveness of Shanghai international shipping center.

CCS Shanghai Branch has attached great importance to the classification of Hai Gang Wei Lai. Upon the conscious of the customer's needs, Shanghai Branch has efficiently completed the import survey, classification change survey and flag change survey of the ship through considerate planning and careful organization. Senior ship surveyors were organized and a survey team was built to participate in the work in advance to collect data and collate survey regulations. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Shanghai Branch studied and optimized all the processes consistent with the epidemic prevention and control requirements, completed the whole survey process in line with the most efficient solution, and thus ensured the timely delivery for service of the ship.