Chinese shipbuilder JHW Engineering & Contracting has secured a contract to build four INEOS MAX liquefied ethane / ethylene carriers for Evergas, a Denmark-based owner and operator of gas carriers.
Under the terms of the contract, JHW will build four 32,000m³ INEOS MAX vessels at a selected shipyard in China.
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The new carriers will feature dual fuel propulsion flexibility that includes liquefied natural gas (LNG) and ethane, besides ballast water treatment system.
The carriers will have increased cargo capacity of about 10% when compared to the Dragon series 27,500m³ class gas carriers currently owned by the operator.
Additionally, the newbuilds will incorporate a wide range of features for safe, environmentally friendly and efficient operations.
The new vessels are expected to comply with regulatory requirements such as Clean ship notation, Green Passport, EEDI Phase III compliance.
Deliveries under the order are expected to commence from the first quarter of 2018.
The four option two INEOS MAX 32,000M3 liquefied ethane / ethylene carriers will release the LNG transportation capacity of the existing Dragon series of 27,500m³ LNG carriers, stated the company.
Of the total eight 27,500m³ LNG carriers to be delivered by Sinopacific Shipbuilding Group, Evergas has received three and they have been assigned to bring ethane from the US to the UK Ineos refineries.
With the expansion of its fleet, the company expects to improve trade in the growing mid-size LNG transportation market.
Image: Kevin Zhu, CEO of JHW, and Philippe Rochet, Executive VP of Jaccar Holding, on behalf of Evergas. Photo: courtesy of Evergas.
