On May 23, CSSC Jiangnan Shipyard named two 99,000 cbm very large ethane carriers (VLECs) rebuilt for Pacific Gas. The two vessels were named “PACIFIC INEOS SELÁ” and “PACIFIC INEOS HOFSÁ”.
Previously, the world’s first 99,000 cbm VLEC delivered to the shipowner was awarded the title of “World Famous Ship” in 2021. This “Ships of the World” is called “PACIFIC INEOS BELSTAFF”. It was delivered on December 28, 2021. It is the world’s largest 99,000 cbm VLEC with the world’s first B-type tank.
The 99,000 cbm VLEC was independently developed and built by Jiangnan Shipyard. It adopts Jiangnan’s independently developed B-type cargo containment system (BrillianceE®). It is the VLEC with the largest capacity in the world. Its comprehensive technical indicators have been identified as being at the international leading level.
The vessel is 230 meters in length, 36.6 meters in width and 22.5 meters in depth. It is suitable for transporting various liquefied industrial and energy gases such as ethane, ethylene and LPG. It is the best ship type “tailor-made” for long-distance transportation of ethane in the United States, and it is universally compatible with major LPG terminals around the world.
This type of vessel has the advantages of low oil (gas) consumption, low boil-off rate (BOR), no liquid level loading restrictions, low maintenance costs, etc., with significant economic benefits. It is equipped with “ethane” dual-fuel main engine, shaft generator and a variety of energy-saving systems for the first time, leading the “low-carbon” transformation and development of high-end ship types in the shipbuilding industry.
The PACIFIC INEOS SELÁ is scheduled to be delivered in early June. The construction team promoted lean management for cargo hold insulation construction, which enabled the vessel to use the Wärtsilä liquid cargo system for the first time and to install and commission the high-pressure gas unit on board for the first time. The team reduced the installation period from 45 days to 20 days through engineering decomposition and process reengineering, ensuring the vessel’s 4-month dock construction period.
The PACIFIC INEOS HOFSÁ is scheduled to be tested at the end of June and delivered at the end of July. As the second vessel in the series, the construction team actively coordinated production resources to complete the main engine alignment within 7 days after launching, shortened the liquid tank strength test, and reached the fixed weight state in 40 days. The dock construction period was shortened by 15 days compared with the first vessel, and the overall efficiency was improved by 35%.
With the joint efforts of the Jiangnan Shipyard design team and the construction team, this series of vessels is driven by innovation and lean management. They continue to delve into key links such as R&D design, full-process construction, supply chain integration, and core test verification. With a strict quality control system and cutting-edge technology applications, they continue to break through the limits of construction efficiency.