On August 1, Jiangnan Shipyard, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, officially started construction of the 99,000 cubic meter very large ethane carrier (VLEC) (hull number:H2822) for Bank Beijing Financial Leasing/Pacific Gas.
Pacific Gas is the first Chinese-based integrated company specializing in very large liquefied gas transportation, supply chain management and integrated warehousing and terminal facilities. Jiangnan Shipyard has previously partnered with Pacific Gas to deliver five VLECs (hull numbers: H2624-H2647).
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 optimal vessel “tailor-made” for long-distance transportation of ethane in the United States, and is universally compatible with major LPG terminals around the world.
On the same day, Jiangnan Shipyard officially broke ground on the world’s first 150,000 cubic meter Ultra Large Ethane Carrier (ULEC) (hull number:H2842) for Eastern Pacific Shipping Pte. Ltd. (EPS). This series of six vessels, signed on August 26, 2024, represents the world’s first and largest MARK III membrane-type ethane carriers. This marks the latest in a series of collaborations between Jiangnan Shipyard and EPS, following the six 93K VLACs.
This vessel is the latest generation of very large ethane carriers independently developed and designed by Jiangnan Shipyard. Its cargo containment system utilizes the French GTT Mark III membrane containment system and is named after Louisiana’s state flower, “Magnolia”.
This vessel is designed to maximize cargo capacity by taking advantage of the waters of the US ethane terminal. Classed by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), its cargo containment system is adaptable to carrying ethane, ethylene, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). It is also LNG-ready, providing maximum cargo loading flexibility and adaptability throughout the vessel’s lifecycle.