A new ethane tanker has been delivered to a Singaporean operator while construction on new gas carriers destined for owners in China and the Middle East. Orders have been placed for new inland liquid cargo barges, chemical tankers, and an LPG/VCM carrier.
Jiangnan Shipbuilding, a company under China State Shipbuilding Corporation, has handed over a new very large ethane carrier (VLEC) to Hong Kong-based operator Sinogas Maritime.
The Singaporean-flagged Gas Jessamine has an LOA of 230 metres, a beam of 36.6 metres, a depth of 22.5 metres, and a total cargo capacity of 99,000 cubic metres. The VLEC can transport ethylene, LPG, and other liquefied gases in addition to ethane.
The vessel is classed by the American Bureau of Shipping.
China's Hubei Jiangrun Shipbuilding has begun construction of a new LPG carrier ordered by local company Zhuhai Wangtong Shipping.
The completed ship will have an LOA of 76.8 metres, a beam of 13.6 metres, a design speed of 12 knots, and cargo tanks with a total capacity of 2,500 cubic metres. Facilities will be available for the transport of LPG cargo under full pressure at room temperature.
Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) and MOL Chemical Tankers (MOLCT) have signed an agreement with CMB Tech for nine ammonia-powered ships, among the first ammonia-powered Newcastlemax bulk carriers and chemical tankers.
Six chemical tankers - two ammonia fitted and four ammonia-ready - have been ordered at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Yangzhou) by CMB Tech and chartered to MOLCT for 10 and 7 years each respectively.
Vancouver, Washington-based Tidewater Transportation and Terminals (TTT) has finalized a contract with Gunderson Marine and Iron, a Portland, Oregon-based shipyard, for the construction of four new liquid refined product barges in a series.
TTT will operate the barges to serve customers in the Pacific Northwest. Each vessel will measure 272 feet (82.9 metres) long, 42 feet (13 metres) wide, and 18.5 feet (5.64 metres) deep and will have a capacity of 20,000 barrels.
The Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat) has ceremonially launched an eight-tanker fleet expansion with a steel cutting at Hanwha Ocean Shipyard in South Korea, signifying the commencement of the construction phase for these advanced vessels.
Fully owned by Nakilat, each ship has a capacity of 174,000 cubic metres, and will be chartered to QatarEnergy affiliates under long-term agreements.
China's Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding has begun construction of a new LPG carrier ordered by Greek shipping company Benelux Overseas.
The completed ship will have an LOA of 190 metres, a beam of 32.2 metres, a depth of 19 metres, and a total cargo capacity of 48,000 cubic metres. The cargo tanks can transport LPG and VCM.