China's Yangtze River Shipbuilding has handed over a new very large ethane carrier (VLEC) to SP Chemicals of Singapore.
ACS SP Voyager is the first ship in a planned series of five VLECs. The Bureau Veritas-classed newbuild has a length of 229.9 metres, a beam of 36.5 metres, a depth of 22.5 metres, and a total cargo capacity of 100,000 cubic metres.
The VLEC was designed to be able to navigate in the Houston Ship Channel and to be capable of berthing many major liquefied gas handling terminals worldwide.
The ship's IMO Type B tanks help keep the gas cargo at temperatures as low as negative 104 degrees Celsius. The maximum steam breathing pressure is 0.25 bar and the maximum cargo density is 610 kg/m³.
The ship is also equipped with an energy-saving power system, an intelligent liquid cargo management system, a full-process liquid level monitoring system, and emergency safety protection systems.
The propulsion, which can deliver a service speed of 16 knots, is compliant with IMO Tier III and EEDI phase III requirements.