A joint venture company between China's Sinopec and China Shipping Development Co (CSDC), which is specialized LNG-carrier sector, has started talks with Chinese shipyards for placing order for newbuilding LNG carriers.
The JV plans to build five 170,000-cbm LNG carriers, at most. It is also looking for a shipping partner, who has experiences in placing order, operating and managing for newbuilding LNG carrier. Now Japanese shipping company seems to be a strong candidate.
Sinopec is to import 7.6Mtpa from Australia Pacific LNG of Australia, starting from around 2015.
The JV has started pre-qualification this week, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, STX Dalian, NACKS, Rongsheng Heavy Industries, etc., are said to make a bid.