Zhoushan Changhong International Shipyard in China launched two new LNG dual-fuel containerships for MSC. According to the shipbuilder, MSC Leila and MSC Insa were simultaneously floated out on 29 November 2024.
These vessels, each with a capacity of 11,500 TEU, are MSC’s first LNG dual-fuel container ships. The DNV-classed vessels measure 335m in length and 45.6m in width, with a design speed of 20 knots.
Zhoushan Changhong stated that these ships will feature the largest type C LNG fuel storage tank in their class, enabling them to complete a single round trip on China-Europe or China-US routes.
These new containerships were designed by CIMC ORIC, a unit of China International Marine Containers (CIMC), which holds a stake in Zhoushan Changhong through its leasing unit.
Currently, MSC has 32 LNG dual-fuel vessels on order at Zhoushan Changhong. Initially, MSC ordered ten LNG dual-fuel 11,500TEU vessels, followed by an additional ten LNG dual-fuel 11,300-TEU vessels. The shipbuilder is set to deliver the first batch of these ships in 2025 and 2026, with the remaining ten expected in the second half of 2026 and 2027.
Most recently, MSC ordered 12 more LNG dual-fuel vessels at Zhoushan Changhong, the largest in this series, with a capacity of 19,000 TEU.
