Everllence has signed an Engineering Design Agreement (EDA) with Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd. – a major Chinese state-owned company based in Shanghai – covering the development of a 180,000 cubic-metre class LNG carrier featuring an Everllence DFE+ (Dual-Fuel, Electric+) propulsion system.

The 180,000 cubic-metre class sits above the 174,000 cubic-metre design that has long been the mainstream size for large membrane-type LNG carriers, and the project pairs two long-established names in the segment: Hudong-Zhonghua, a shipyard within China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) and one of the world's leading builders of LNG carriers, and Augsburg-based Everllence, the engine designer formerly known as MAN Energy Solutions, which adopted its current name in 2025.

The agreement was signed on 5 June 2026 by Yang Chunhua, Technical Centre Deputy Director of Hudong-Zhonghua, while Pan Ke, Head of Sales & Projects, Four-Stroke China, represented Everllence.

The partners see the potential to enable and promote more environmentally friendly and efficient LNG shipping, especially in light of ever-stricter IMO CII emission requirements. The Carbon Intensity Indicator, in force since 2023 under MARPOL Annex VI, grades ships from A to E based on the CO2 emitted per unit of transport work, with the required performance level tightening year by year — a regulatory backdrop that makes propulsion efficiency an ongoing operational consideration for owners. The collaboration builds on an established track record between the two companies, which previously delivered 10 conventional DFDE (Dual-Fuel Diesel Electric) LNG carriers. DFDE plants, which run primarily on natural boil-off gas from the cargo in a diesel-electric configuration, have been one of the established propulsion options for LNG carriers, alongside steam turbine and two-stroke dual-fuel machinery; the DFE+ concept develops the electric-drive approach as a hybrid-electric solution. As an engineering design agreement, the deal covers the development phase of the vessel concept, with any subsequent construction dependent on future orders from shipowners.

Song Wei, Chief Technical Engineer of Hudong-Zhonghua, said: “Decarbonisation is an obvious development trend in the shipping industry. Ship owners are currently faced with unprecedented challenges and uncertainties as they are fighting to achieve the GHG Net Zero Emissions by 2050. We are very glad to work together with Everllence to develop the hybrid-electric propulsion solution with high efficiency on LNG carriers, which shall provide more options for ship owners.”

Dominik Thoma, Global Manager LNG Cargo, Everllence, said: “Nowadays, individual technology providers can only achieve marginal efficiency improvements. Accordingly, for bigger gains, shipyards and engine manufacturers need to work closely together. Hudong-Zhonghua – as a market leader within the construction of LNG Carriers – and Everllence – as market leader in the design and manufacture of four-stroke engines – possess the joint capabilities to bring propulsion systems to the next level.”

Source: Everllence (via X)