The Chang Ping Yuan, a Chinese-built very large gas carrier, was recently named in Nantong, Jiangsu province. It is the largest vessel of its kind able to navigate both the old and new locks of the Panama Canal, an advantage that its manufacturer believes will boost China's international energy transport. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Chang Ping Yuan, a Chinese-built very large gas carrier (VLGC), was recently named in Nantong, Jiangsu province. It is the largest vessel of its kind able to navigate both the old and new locks of the Panama Canal, an advantage that its manufacturer believes will boost China's international energy transport.

The vessel has a liquid cargo tank capacity of 88,000 cubic meters. It can carry nine types of liquefied gas on international routes, including anhydrous ammonia and dimethyl ether, two types that older vessels generally can't carry.

The Chang Ping Yuan is 230 meters long, longer than two standard soccer fields end to end, and 32.25 meters wide, enough to park a dozen trucks side by side.

The highlight is inside. According to COSCO Shipping, the manufacturer, four independent cargo tanks and a 300-cubic-meter deck tank work like a giant "cold chain warehouse" at sea, providing safe, efficient storage and transport for liquefied gas cargoes

The ship's width lets it pass both the new Panama Canal locks — wider but more expensive — and the older, narrower locks, which are cheaper. This advantage gives it flexibility in choosing transport channels.

El Nino has brought reduced rainfall to Panama. Beginning Sept 3, the Panama Canal cut daily permitted transits. According to the Panama Canal Authority, water levels in the artificial lakes supplying the canal have declined. Daily transit slots fell from 36 to 34, nine for the new locks and 25 for the old locks. The number will drop to 32 starting Sept 15.

The canal operates on a stepwise system. Vessels pass through as if riding an elevator, their hulls raised and lowered through successive locks. The canal relies mainly on rainfall stored in artificial lakes; without enough water, the locks cannot function properly.

The vessel has an LPG dual-fuel main engine and shaft generator. Compared with conventional fuel oil, running on LPG cuts carbon dioxide emissions by around 20 percent and sulfur oxides and particulate matter by roughly 90 percent. The ship therefore complies with the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships set by the International Maritime Organization, as well as the FuelEU Maritime regulation.

Its intelligent system collects real-time navigation data to advise the crew, flag equipment maintenance needs, and analyze energy consumption.

Chang Ping Yuan is the first of four ships in the series. According to the company, the series "will play a tangible role in diversifying China's LPG import sources and strengthening the resilience of its energy supply chain