Some developments are being made in the China LNG market, with Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry signing an over RMB100m ($16.1m) contract with Anhui Huaqiang Natural Gas to build three LNG bunkering barges for the Chinese market.

The vessels are meant to service some 2,000 ships registered in Anhui Province, and will offer bunkering services to ships that have been converted to run on LNG.

The service provider plans to order another 10 LNG bunkering barges from Wuchang Shipbuilding in October. The barges have a capacity of about 4,000 tonnes, with two 250 cu m LNG storage tanks on board.