China's shipbuilding industry has reached a historic milestone. On Sunday, the largest liquefied natural gas carrier ever independently designed and built in the country was delivered to its customer.

The vessel, Celsius Georgetown, measures nearly 299 meters in length and 48 meters in width, with a capacity to carry 180,000 cubic meters of LNG. Immediately after the ceremony at the China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu) shipyard, the tanker set course for Singapore. Thanks to well-coordinated efforts by the border control service, customs clearance was expedited, allowing the vessel to set sail under favorable tidal conditions.

Program head Lu Jinlong confirmed that the order book already includes six vessels of this type. The remaining five are under construction, with the second one expected to be delivered in three months.

LNG carriers represent the pinnacle of shipbuilding. The gas is transported at a temperature of minus 163 degrees Celsius, and the construction complexity has earned such vessels the nickname "crown jewel" of the industry. China is now confidently claiming its share of this elite market.