Zhoushan Changhong International Ship Repair Co., Ltd. has delivered the 10,300-teu LNG dual-fuel container ship MSC Stella M X to Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) 301 days ahead of the contractual delivery date, according to the Chinese shipyard.

The naming and delivery ceremony was held on 3 August at the shipyard’s facility in Zhoushan, China. The vessel, hull number CHB2040, is the fourth in a series of ten 10,300-teu LNG dual-fuel container ships being built by Changhong International for MSC under an existing contract.

At 10:36am, the ship’s godmother, Ms Yu Juan, named the vessel, before delivery documents were signed via video link between the shipowner and the shipyard at 3:08pm the same day. The early delivery sets a new record for the series, according to Changhong International.

Guests attending the ceremony included Francesco De Gennaro, General Coordinator of the Newbuilding Project in China for MSC; Dong Qi, Site Manager; Albert Quirante, Newbuilding Project Engineer at MSC Cyprus Management; Dai Yueming, General Manager of DNV GL’s Zhoushan branch; KB Kim, Project Manager; and Shen Zhihua, General Manager of Changhong International Dinghai Shipbuilding.

The MSC Stella M X was jointly developed by Changhong International and CIMC ORIC. The vessel measures approximately 299.95 metres in length and 45.6 metres in beam, with a design speed of 20 knots. It is classed by DNV.

The ship is equipped with an LNG dual-fuel main engine and generator, supported by a high- and low-pressure hybrid gas supply system. The vessel also meets ammonia-ready and methanol-ready specifications. Changhong International claims that the ship’s energy efficiency design index (EEDI) is approximately 50% below the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Phase 3 requirements.

The shipyard says the delivery was achieved despite adverse weather conditions over the summer, including high temperatures, heavy rainfall and typhoon activity. According to Changhong International, the project team managed resource allocation across key construction phases — including section assembly, final assembly, and system installation and commissioning — to mitigate the impact of weather disruptions, with sea trials completed in four days.