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Wah Kwong and BV celebrate delivery of LNG-ready LR2 tanker “Frontier Venture”

Built by Hengli Shipyard in Dalian, the vessel is the first in the series to demonstrate Group 3 ‘augmented ship’ capabilities, integrating advanced on-board digital systems with shore-based support.
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Wah Kwong and BV celebrate delivery of LNG-ready LR2 tanker Frontier Venture

Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV) on Tuesday (31 March) said it celebrated the delivery of LNG-ready LR2 tanker Frontier Venture with Wah Kwong Maritime Transport (Wah Kwong) on 30 March. 

The vessel is the first in Wah Kwong’s new series of SMART-enabled ships, representing a significant milestone in the company’s fleet development. 

Built by Hengli Shipyard in Dalian, the vessel is the first in the series to demonstrate Group 3 “augmented ship” capabilities, integrating advanced on-board digital systems with shore-based support.

Classed by BV, the Frontier Venture has been assigned the SMART (H1,M1,EnE3,MH3) notations, recognizing its enhanced capabilities in machinery health monitoring and energy efficiency optimization. The new vessel is the latest example of industry innovation, resulting from the long-standing collaboration between Wah Kwong and BV to advance class-recognized digitalization across its fleet.

The “augmented ship” features expert-in-the-loop services that deliver timely, actionable insights to ship officers. This includes early detection of machinery anomalies and recommendations for more efficient operating profiles, a critical capability in modern maritime operations, where complex variables demand both data-driven analysis and human expertise for sound decision-making.

The Frontier Venture is the first in the series being built at Hengli Shipyard. The delivery of the second LR2 is expected to be in July 2026. The 114,000 DWT LR2 Frontier Venture is 248.8 meters long, with a breadth of 44.0 meters and a depth of 21.5 meters. It is powered by a modern Everllence B&W main engine rated at 10,800 kW SMCR, and meets EEDI Phase III requirements. 

The vessel has three cargo oil pumps, each with a capacity of 3,000 m³/h, for efficient loading and discharge.

Hing Chao, Chairman of Wah Kwong Maritime Transport, said: “The SMART notations awarded to our first LR2 mark a key milestone in our long‑term partnership with Bureau Veritas and demonstrate how we translate innovation into fleet‑wide progress. 

“BV continues to set a higher bar for the governance of digital capability, and together we have advanced through the SMART framework in recent years — ensuring that data‑driven insights are effectively embedded in operations onboard and ashore. 

“This supports a future where trusted data and digital technologies enable the sector to collaborate more closely and move faster towards an intelligent, sustainable, maritime world.”

 

Photo credit: Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore
Published: 1 April, 2026

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Newbuilding

Tsuneishi Shipbuilding delivers third methanol dual-fuel container vessel

Vessel is equipped with a dual-fuel propulsion system capable of operating on methanol as well as conventional marine fuels.

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June 18, 2026

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Tsuneishi Shipbuilding delivers third methanol dual-fuel container vessel

Tsuneishi Shipbuilding on Monday (15 June) said Tsuneishi Group (Zhoushan) Shipbuilding (TZS) has delivered its third methanol dual-fuel 5,900 TEU container vessel.  

The vessel is equipped with a dual-fuel propulsion system capable of operating on methanol as well as conventional marine fuels. 

“Methanol is attracting growing attention as a next-generation marine fuel due to its potential to reduce CO₂ emissions and support the maritime industry’s transition towards decarbonisation,” the company said. 

Building on the successful delivery of its second methanol dual-fuel 5,900 TEU container vessel, the company said TZS is further enhancing its technical expertise and production experience in response to increasing demand for next-generation fuel vessels.

 

Photo credit: Tsuneishi Shipbuilding
Published: 18 June, 2026

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Hydrogen

LH2 Shipping wins Enova funding for two more liquid hydrogen-powered bulk carriers

Company secured USD 36 million for the development and construction of two additional liquid hydrogen-powered bulk carriers.

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June 17, 2026

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LH2 Shipping wins Enova funding for two more liquid hydrogen-powered bulk carriers

Norway’s LH2 Shipping on Tuesday (16 June) said it has been awarded Enova support of NOK 344.3 million (USD 36 million) for the development and construction of two additional liquid hydrogen-powered bulk carriers.

With the latest award, LH2 Shipping is now involved in the development of six hydrogen-powered bulk carrier projects. The announcement builds on previous Enova-supported vessel initiatives and reflects growing momentum for liquid hydrogen as a viable fuel alternative for short-sea shipping to meet decarbonising policy goals.

The new projects represent a continuation of LH2 Shipping’s long-term strategy to establish commercially viable hydrogen-powered vessels while contributing to the development of the supporting fuel and bunkering infrastructure required for large-scale adoption.

“This award is an important strategic milestone for LH2 Shipping,” stated Ivan Østvik, CEO of LH2 Shipping. 

“It strengthens our position as a developer of liquid hydrogen-based zero-emission vessel solutions and brings us yet another step closer to our ambition of enabling a substantial fleet of hydrogen-powered vessels that can help establish a complete maritime liquid hydrogen value chain.”

Since introducing the world’s first hydrogen-powered bulk carrier projects, LH2 Shipping has focused on moving beyond demonstration concepts toward commercially deployable vessels. The addition of vessels five and six further expands the project portfolio and supports continued industrial learning across ship design, fuel systems, operations, and infrastructure.

The Enova support will indirectly enable LH2 Shipping to continue their work developing additional zero-emission solutions for passenger transport and offshore operations, supporting Norway’s broader transition toward a low-emission maritime sector.

“If we are to succeed in the transition to low and zero emission solutions in the maritime sector, we depend on players who dare to go first. LH2 Shipping shows how shipping companies can take the lead and adopt new technology. This is crucial to accelerating development and reducing emissions from shipping,” said Head of Hydrogen and Ammonia Initiatives, Elin Ulstad Stokland at Enova.

This latest Enova award brings total support for the six vessels to more than NOK 800 million and reinforces the momentum behind hydrogen-powered shipping in Norway. Through these projects, LH2 Shipping is offering ship operators to decarbonise bulk transport at scale while contributing to the development of the infrastructure and experience needed for wider industry adoption.

 

Photo credit: LH2 Shipping
Published: 17 June, 2026

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Methanol

China: Chimbusco takes delivery of new methanol bunkering vessel in Zhoushan

Company says commissioning of “Zhong Ran LV Neng 85” will further enhance its service capabilities in green methanol bunkering in major domestic ports.
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June 16, 2026

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Chimbusco takes delivery of new methanol bunkering vessel in Zhoushan

China Marine Bunker (PetroChina) (Chimbusco) recently took delivery of its first bunkering vessel in China to deliver methanol to dual-fuel ships.

The 8,500-dwt duplex stainless steel chemical tanker Zhong Ran LV Neng 85 was successfully delivered in Zhoushan.

The company said the commissioning of this new ship will further enhance Chimbusco’s service capabilities in green methanol bunkering in major domestic ports and expand its national marine new energy service and support network

During the delivery period, Chimbusco said it focused on safe operations and conducted special training for all crew members of the vessel.

The training covered methanol bunkering operation specifications, prevention of collisions between commercial and fishing vessels, daily vessel reporting, and voyage report filling standards.

Manifold Times previously reported the launching of the bunkering vessel at Taizhou Fangzhen Shipbuilding Wharf in Zhejiang.

The floating out of the ship comes after Chimbusco has obtained methanol bunkering licences for Shanghai Port and Ningbo Port.

Related: Chimbusco launches new methanol bunkering vessel in Zhejiang

 

Photo credit: China Marine Bunker (PetroChina) (Chimbusco)
Published: 16 June, 2026

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