On November 20, Navigator Gas, the world’s largest handysize liquefied gas carrier owner, announced the exercise of its option to order two additional 48,500 cbm liquefied ethane gas (LEG) carriers at Jiangnan Shipyard.
The two new vessels have the same specification and price as the previously announced LEG carriers and can flexibly load a variety of liquefied gas cargoes such as ethane, ethylene, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), ammonia, etc. The two new vessels are expected to be delivered in November 2027 and January 2028 respectively.
On August 23 this year, Jiangnan Shipyard signed a contract with Navigator Gas to build 2+2 48,500 cbm LEG carriers. According to an announcement released by Navigator Gas on its official website on the same day, the first two new buildings are expected to be delivered in March 2027 and July 2027, with a priced of US$102.9 million each and the total value of the four vessels reaching US$411.6 million.
According to Jiangnan Shipyard, this type of LEG carrier will be equipped with Jiangnan Shipyard’s independently developed “BrilliancE®” B-Type tanks. The vessel will also be equipped with shore power reservation, ammonia fuel reservation, carbon capture reservation, all-electric deck machinery, silicone coating, and other advanced energy-saving technologies. These cutting-edge features, along with innovations in ship type development, new containment system design, and future lean and efficient construction, make this vessel almost a comprehensive rehearsal of future ship types.
With this new order taking effect, Navigator Gas has ordered four LEG carriers from Jiangnan Shipyard. Of these, three are expected to be delivered in 2027, and the remaining one in 2028.
Navigator Gas is the owner and operator of the world’s largest fleet of small-scale liquefied gas carriers and a global leader in marine services for petrochemical gases. Navigator Gas’ fleet consists of 56 semi-refrigerated or fully refrigerated liquefied gas carriers, 25 of which have the capability to transport ethylene and ethane.