On September 24, 2025, CMES (China Merchants Energy Shipping) held the naming and delivery ceremony for the first vessel of its 175,000-cubic-meter liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier series, built in bulk by Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Group under China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). The vessel was named "Hai Yun" (海韵轮). Attendees included Feng Boming, Vice General Manager of China Merchants Group; Hu Xianfu, Vice General Manager of CSSC; Zhao Yan, President of China Classification Society (CCS); Shan Hongjun, President of Dalian Maritime University; Wang Yongxin, General Manager of CMES; Wu Wenlong, General Manager of Sinochem Petroleum; and Han Dongwang, Chairman of Dalian Shipbuilding, among others.
Measuring 295 meters in overall length, this vessel is capable of berthing at the vast majority of large LNG terminals worldwide. In the future, it will serve LNG transportation across global ports. This vessel is the first of eight identical LNG carriers in CMES's series.
As one of the highlights of the vessel's intelligent systems, "Hai Yun" is equipped with the smart ship-assisted navigation system Marautec i-EYE, fully self-developed by Marautec. This project marks the first installation, commissioning, and operational deployment of the Marautec Nav-Eye system on an LNG carrier, representing a significant breakthrough for the company in the high-end clean energy vessel sector.
LNG carriers are internationally recognized as high-tech, high-difficulty, and high-value-added products, often referred to as one of the "crown jewels" of shipbuilding. Facing the special operating environment characterized by low temperatures, explosion-proof requirements, high-risk conditions, and stringent standards, Marautec leveraged its self-developed "Marautec Nav-Eye" system to complete a comprehensive customized development — from hardware adaptation to algorithm optimization — effectively ensuring safe vessel operation under complex working conditions. The successful installation of this project signifies that Marautec's product performance and technical capabilities have withstood the most rigorous testing, laying a solid foundation for deeper expansion into the high-end vessel market.
The Marautec i-Eye system equipped on this vessel is an intelligent navigation assistant built on AI visual perception technology, fusing multi-source data including radar, AIS, and electronic charts to provide crew members with decision support that enables them to "see farther, clearer, and more accurately." Captain Zeng Deheng of "Hai Yun" stated that Marautec i-Eye endows the vessel with "intelligent eyes," compensating for human vision deficiencies under harsh conditions such as nighttime, fog, and glare. It is particularly effective at intelligently identifying potential hazard targets such as small fishing boats and floating objects, significantly enhancing situational awareness in complex waterways.
Marautec Chairman Zhang Binghua stated: "LNG carriers represent the pinnacle arena of shipbuilding. Achieving a breakthrough in this field is a proud honor for Marautec. We will continue to tackle high-precision technologies, safeguarding national clean energy transportation security and contributing to global green shipping development."
From container ships, bulk carriers, river vessels, dredgers, asphalt carriers, tugs, oil tankers, and passenger vessels to now LNG carriers, Marautec's product portfolio covers the full spectrum of mainstream commercial vessels. Each leap forward represents a solid technical breakthrough; every application builds a deeper foundation of trust.
Based on the successful collaboration in this project, both parties will further expand the scope of cooperation. Marautec i-Eye will achieve bulk deployment across multiple subsequent LNG carriers, establishing a firm foundation for expanding into the high-end clean energy vessel market.
