LNG Shipping Milestone Reached as DACKS Concludes Sea Trials of Dual-Fuel VLCC

China’s Dalian COSCO KHI Ship Engineering (DACKS) has successfully completed eight days of conventional fuel sea trials for its newly built very large crude carrier (VLCC), the shipyard announced on Friday, 11th July. 

The milestone paves the way for commissioning of a 309,000 dwt vessel designed to operate on both conventional marine fuel and liquefied natural gas (LNG), part of a growing shift towards lower-carbon propulsion in the tanker sector.

Construction of the VLCC began in April 2024, with all design, engineering, and build activities carried out in-house at DACKS’s Dalian yard.

Throughout the trials, DACKS engineers conducted a comprehensive programme of tests. These included a ballast tank integrity assessment, a main engine endurance run, speed trials to verify contract performance, and steering manoeuvrability exercises. 

According to the shipbuilder, all trials met or exceeded the design criteria, confirming the vessel’s operational readiness.

With a length overall (LOA) of 339.5 metres, a beam of 60 metres and a maximum design draught of 28.9 metres, the VLCC is one of the largest dual-fuel crude carriers yet built. 

The dual-fuel engines can switch between conventional distillate and LNG, with two 5,100 cubic-metre type C cryogenic tanks housed within the hull to store the gas. When fully laden with LNG, the tanker has a range of up to 19,000 nautical miles, enabling ultra-long voyages without refuelling.

By using LNG as the primary fuel, the vessel can significantly reduce sulphur oxide, nitrogen oxide and greenhouse-gas emissions compared with traditional heavy fuel oil, while retaining the flexibility to run on conventional fuel when LNG bunkering is not available.

The dual-fuel VLCC arrives at a time when the global tanker industry is under intensifying pressure to comply with tighter environmental regulations. The International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) 2020 sulphur cap and forthcoming greenhouse-gas strategy demand rapid decarbonisation of commercial vessels. 

LNG propulsion, widely regarded as a transitional solution, can cut CO₂ emissions by up to 20% and virtually eliminate sulphur oxides.

Beyond immediate environmental benefits, the vessel’s engineering design offers operational advantages. Dual-fuel engines tend to operate more efficiently at steady speeds, lowering overall fuel consumption. The cryogenic tanks are integrated neatly within the cargo block, maximising cargo capacity while meeting stringent Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) standards.

With trials now concluded, DACKS will prepare the vessel for class approval and delivery later this year.

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