Malaysian shipowner MISC has exercised options for five additional LNG carriers (LNGCs) in a series to be constructed by China's Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, doubling its newbuilding orders at the yard to 10 vessels.
Each of the new ships will have a cargo capacity of 174,000 cubic metres. Employment for the vessels had been secured before the contracts were signed.
On October 7, MISC and Petronas LNG entered into an agreement covering long-term time charters for the five ships.
"The project will be for a firm charter period of 20 years for each LNGC, with commencement expected in 2030," MISC said in an October 8 stock exchange filing.
The company added that the project would support its LNG carrier rejuvenation programme.
MISC contracted its first five large LNGCs at Hudong-Zhonghua in January and February 2026. The first three followed a letter of award from Petronas LNG in January. In May,
Petronas LNG signed 20-year charters for all five vessels, with commencement scheduled between 2029 and 2030.