China's Jiangnan Shipyard and Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co (DSIC) are poised to join the small coterie of international shipbuilders capable of constructing large LNG carriers.

The two shipyards — under the control of state-owned China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC) — have each inked letters of intent (LOI) for one firm 175,000-cbm LNG ship with an option for an additional vessel with domestic owners.