CSSC-affiliated Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding has won a contract from Japanese shipping giant Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) to build six 174，000 cum liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.

The largest one-time order for the Shanghai-based yard is worth CNY7.5bn (around $1.18bn) and follows this week’s shipbuilding contract with CSSC Leasing for a single 174，000 cum unit.

The deal comes in partnership with Shanghai-headquartered COSCO Shipping LNG. The business unit of COSCO Shipping Energy Transportation will hold a 25% interest in each vessel.

The ships will deliver in 2025 and go on a charter with CNOOC Gas & Power Group， a wholly-owned subsidiary of China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC)， which recently inked its first US LNG supply deal with Venture Global LNG.