Navigator Holdings has announced the exercising of an option to build an additional three 35,000m3 ethylene/ethane-capable semi-refrigerated liquefied gas carriers in addition to the vessel of the same size already under construction.
The three additional vessels will be built at Jiangnan Shipyard in China for US$78.4 million each.
The carriers are specifically designed in anticipation of large scale exports of ethane becoming available from surplus shale gas production in the United States, as well as moves from international petrochemical companies to diversify feedstock supplies with low-cost US ethane.
As some of the world's largest semi-refrigerated liquefied gas carriers, the vessels will have the versatility to transport a full range of liquefied gases such as propane and butane, as well as petrochemicals including ethylene, ethane, and ammonia.
The vessels will be powered by dual fuel engines.
