Super busy Chinese shipyards are now accepting orders as far out as 2029. Middle Eastern liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer QatarEnergy has signed a contract with Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding for the construction of eight supersize LNG carriers.

The next step in the state-owned company’s massive shipbuilding program will see the CSSC-affiliated yard build Q-Max units with a capacity of 271，000 cum， making them the largest-ever ships ordered in this sector.

Qatar already has 14 Q-Max vessels on a long-term charter with a carrying capacity of around 266，000 cum supplying Far Eastern， European and various other markets. Q stands for Qatar and Max for the maximum size of ship able to dock at the LNG terminals in Qatar.

QatarEnergy’s historic LNG shipbuilding program is the largest of its kind in the history of the LNG industry. The company contracted 60 ships in the first phase of the program. The second phase kicked off in September in a deal with South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries for the construction of 17 LNG carriers worth nearly $4bn， bringing the total number of confirmed LNG carrier newbuilds to be delivered to Qatar Energy and its affiliates to 77.

Hudong-Zhonghua presented its design concept for the world’s largest LNG carrier last year， which received approval in principle from many of the leading class societies. The record-breaking vessel could transport enough LNG to provide gas for 4.7m Shanghai homes for a month， 25-30% more efficiently than a 170，000 cum vessel.

No price has been revealed for the new Q-Max-size vessels scheduled for delivery in 2028 and 2029. Standard 174，000 cum units in China are reported to cost about $245m.