Jiangnan Shipyard, China Shipbuilding Trading and COSCO Shipping Lines have signed a contract for twelve 18,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessels, according to the shipyard on Tuesday (13 January).
The 18,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container ship signed this time is the “Kun” (KUN-18N) type, independently developed and designed by Jiangnan Shipyard. It uses LNG as its primary fuel and possesses complete independent intellectual property rights.
All performance indicators have reached advanced domestic levels, boasting advantages such as high efficiency, energy saving, and environmental friendliness, meeting the shipowner’s strategy and plan to reduce carbon emissions throughout the fleet’s subsequent operating cycle.
Furthermore, this ship type incorporates the shipowner’s personalised requirements, significantly improving the vessel’s economic efficiency and market adaptability, and highly aligning with the current trend of green and low-carbon development in the shipping industry.
With the successful signing of this agreement with COSCO Shipping Lines, the “KUN” series of container ships has expanded to 49 vessels, covering various fuel types such as conventional fuel power, methanol dual-fuel power, and LNG dual-fuel power.
“This fully demonstrates Jiangnan Shipyard’s profound strength in the research, design, and construction of large container ships, further expands Jiangnan Shipyard’s influence in the mainstream dual-fuel large container ship market, and also marks another milestone for Jiangnan Shipyard in the field of large container ships,” it added.
According to COSCO Shipping Lines, the ships are expected to be delivered between 2028 and 2029 , and they are expected to be deployed on major east-west routes after delivery.
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Published: 22 January, 2026
