On October 27, China State Shipbuilding Corporation’s Jiangnan Shipyard signed and delivered the second 99,000 cubic meter Very Large Ethane Carrier (VLEC 2.0) series built for Southwest Maritime. The vessel was christened “GAS LOTUS” on August 16, the same day as the first vessel in the series.
The 99,000 cubic meter VLEC was independently developed and built by Jiangnan Shipyard. It adopts Jiangnan’s independently developed Type-B tank cargo containment system (BrillianceE®). It is the world’s largest VLEC with comprehensive technical indicators at the international leading level.
This vessel type measures 230 meters in overall length and 36.6 meters in beam, designed for transporting various liquefied industrial and energy gases including ethane, ethylene, and LPG. It also offers universal compatibility with major LPG terminals worldwide.
This vessel offers significant economic benefits through low fuel consumption, no liquid-level loading restrictions, and reduced maintenance costs. Equipped with a dual-fuel “ethane” main engine, shaft-driven generator, and multiple energy-saving devices, it represents the optimal vessel type specifically tailored for long-distance ethane transportation in the United States.
It is understood that Jiangnan Shipyard has completed the construction of multiple vessels of this type with high efficiency and quality, earning the full recognition and trust of Southwest Maritime. Building upon its existing construction capabilities, Jiangnan Shipyard has pursued transformation, innovation, and management enhancement, adopting a customer-centric approach to consistently deliver high-quality vessels to Southwest Maritime, thereby supporting its business development.
Notably, the vessel delivered at this signing ceremony marks the sixth VLEC delivered by Jiangnan Shipyard to Southwest Maritime, with the final vessel in this series still to be delivered.