Construction has commenced on a 14,000-cubic-meter liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering carrier, the first of its kind in the world, the vessel's design firm Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) announced on Tuesday.

The ship is to be delivered to an LNG company in East China's Anhui province, the new ship also marks the first carrier of its kind designed and built in China.

With a length of 130 meters, a molded width of 23.6m and a molded depth of 15m, the ship can transport between the river and the sea.

Set to be put into operation in August 2024, the ship has also used key equipment for the first time such as high and low load compressors, reliquefaction units, LNG submersible pumps, ship-to-ship conveying systems, and LNG cryogenic valves. Up to 80 percent of the key parts will be provided by Chinese companies.

As the major channel for inland shipping in China, the annual transportation volume of the Yangtze River reaches 3 billion tons, accounting for more than 60 percent of the total inland shipping in China. Conventional vessels using fuels such as diesel have pollution emissions that are 70 percent higher than LNG carriers.