MISC orders up to six 174,000 cbm LNG carriers at Hudong Zhonghua with Petronas charter cover
February 2, 2026
MISC has signed a shipbuilding contract in China for three firm 174,000 cbm LNG carriers plus options for three more, with the deal announced as signed on January 30. The shipbuilder said the vessels will go on charter to Petronas after delivery; pricing and delivery dates were not disclosed in the announcement, while shipbuilding sources cited in trade reporting put indicative values around $235 million to $240 million per ship and deliveries expected in 2029.
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MISC LNG carrier order in one read
MISC has contracted three 174,000 cbm LNG carriers at China’s Hudong-Zhonghua, with options for three additional ships. The builder said the deal was signed on January 30 and that the vessels will be chartered to Petronas after delivery. Pricing and delivery dates were not disclosed in the announcement.
- Order shape
Three firm ships plus three options, up to six LNG carriers in the program. - Vessel class
174,000 cbm large LNG carriers, a mainstream size band for long-haul LNG lift. -
Bottom Line Impact
This is a forward-supply visibility datapoint for LNG shipping. The market sensitivity is concentrated in the 2029 window and in whether the optional ships convert into firm orders.
MISC LNG carrier order with Petronas charter cover
3 firm + 3 options at Hudong Zhonghua, 174,000 cbm class, announced as signed January 30
| Fast reader take | Deal structure | Vessel and build spec | Timeline and cost markers | Who feels it first |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forward LNG tonnage added |
3 firm LNG carriers plus options for 3 more (up to 6 total).
Contract announced as signed January 30.
3 firm3 optionsup to 6
|
174,000 cbm class LNG carriers.
Builder described these as its newer generation design series.
174k cbmlarge LNGC
|
Builder announcement did not publish price or delivery dates.
Market estimates reported around $235m to $240m per ship, with deliveries expected in 2029.
|
LNG chartering desks, project shippers, fleet planners, shipbrokers tracking 2028 to 2030 supply. |
| Named employment locked |
Charter cover stated with Petronas following delivery.
Named employment reduces open exposure for these units at delivery.
Petronas charter
|
Modern propulsion and containment cited in trade reporting for this series.
Design notes included GTT membrane tech and dual fuel engine references in trade reporting.
|
Charter cover is the central commercial anchor, independent of spot cycle swings.
Options create a staged decision path if market or project needs change.
|
Energy portfolio and shipping procurement teams, plus financiers underwriting contracted cashflows. |
| China yard pipeline signal |
Contract placed at Hudong Zhonghua in China.
Adds another LNGC slot allocation to a yard already busy in large gas carrier programs.
China buildHudong Zhonghua
|
Standard large LNGC class that fits mainstream liquefaction and import terminal constraints.
This size band is widely deployable across long haul LNG routes.
|
2029 delivery expectation concentrates impact in the medium term, not near term freight.
The key signal is pipeline visibility rather than immediate supply.
|
Competing LNG owners, shipyards, equipment suppliers, and charterers benchmarking contract terms. |
| Option value for fleet strategy |
Options allow scaling from 3 to 6 without a fresh tender cycle.
Keeps a growth lever available if upstream volumes or portfolio shifts require more lift.
|
Common platform approach supports crewing, spares, and technical management efficiency.
Same class ordering can simplify training and maintenance planning.
|
Option exercise timing becomes a watch point for 2029 to 2031 supply projections.
If options convert, the supply curve steepens for that window.
|
Analysts tracking LNG shipping supply, and charterers assessing future availability and pricing power. |
Deal in numbers
Order shape
3 firm plus 3 options
Vessel size class
174,000 cbm LNGC
Builder
Hudong-Zhonghua
Employment
Charter to Petronas
medium-term LNG shipping supply
contracted employment
China yard berth allocation
Public announcements did not disclose pricing or delivery dates. Trade reporting cited deliveries expected in 2029 and indicative values per ship.
Pipeline visibility view
A simple split between committed hulls and potential hulls. This is a supply-curve watchpoint rather than a spot-rate story.
- Named charter cover reduces open employment exposure for the firm ships on delivery.
- Option exercise timing is the key variable that can steepen the 2029 to 2030 supply window.
- Yard slots at scale remain a constraint, so each contracted block adds visibility.
Capacity footprint quick tool
Select firm only or firm plus options to see the program’s nominal LNG tank volume. This uses 174,000 cbm per ship.
Interactive
Nominal tank volume is a sizing cue. Cargo carried depends on loading limits, routing, boil-off, and charter terms.
Firm ships only (3)
Nominal tank volume: 522,000 cbm
Average per ship: 174,000 cbm
Nominal tank volume: 522,000 cbm
Average per ship: 174,000 cbm
Bottom Line Impact
Three firm LNG carriers plus three options with Petronas charter cover adds measurable medium-term LNG tonnage visibility. The main watchpoint is whether and when the optional ships convert, which would increase the size of the 2029 delivery window exposure.
Three firm LNG carriers plus three options with Petronas charter cover adds measurable medium-term LNG tonnage visibility. The main watchpoint is whether and when the optional ships convert, which would increase the size of the 2029 delivery window exposure.
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