Dalian, China – On October 21, the MSC container ship “Maria Cristina,” a 16,000 TEU vessel constructed by Dalian Shipbuilding and China Ship Trading, was officially delivered. Notably, this ship is equipped with the world’s largest B-type LNG (liquefied natural gas) fuel tank.
The “Maria Cristina” is the first of eight LNG dual-fuel 16,000 TEU container ships being built for MSC by Dalian Shipbuilding, measuring approximately 366 meters in length, 51 meters in width, and 30.2 meters in depth.
According to Bi Hongkun, the project manager at Dalian Shipbuilding, the design of the vessel emphasizes “safety, economy, and environmental protection.” The ship features dual-fuel main engines, generators, and boilers, along with a waste heat recovery system to meet the latest environmental emission standards. The project team has implemented energy-saving measures, such as optimizing the hull form and incorporating efficient propellers and rudders, resulting in an energy efficiency design index that is 65.5% below the baseline.
One of the standout features of the “Maria Cristina” is its B-type LNG fuel tank, which has a capacity of 13,000 cubic meters and weighs 1,200 tons, making it the largest B-type LNG fuel tank in a single compartment globally.
Bi highlighted that this ship marks the first instance in China of fully independently developing a B-type LNG fuel tank, thus filling a technological gap in the domestic market. During the LNG refueling operations, the refueling team successfully executed a series of complex tasks, including inerting the fuel tank, cooling operations, replacement, and refueling, ultimately shortening the overall refueling period by approximately 66 hours compared to initial estimates.
During sea trials, the command center focused on the dual-fuel main engine and shaft generator, overcoming various challenges and completing all trial tasks in just 13 days.
