On March 25, the second 1.5 version 99,000 cbm very large ethane carrier (VLEC) “GAS JESSAMINE” built by CSSC Jiangnan Shipyard for Southwest Maritime Limited was signed and delivered. The vessel was delivered one month ahead of scheduled.
It is reported that the 99,000 cbm VLEC is the world’s largest VLEC, independently developed by Jiangnan Shipyard. And its core device, the low-temperature cargo containment system, is a Type B tank (BrillianceE®) independently developed by Jiangnan Shipyard. This series of vessels is the 99,000 cbm VLEC 1.5 version built by Jiangnan Shipyard for Southwest Maritime, with 186 technical optimizations in the design.
Classed by American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), the “GAS JESSAMINE” VLEC has an overall length of 230 meters, a beam of 36.6 meters, and it is suitable for the transportation of a variety of liquefied gases, such as ethane, ethylene, and LPG. With the advantages of low oil (gas) consumption, small boil-off rate (BOR), no liquid level loading restriction and low maintenance cost, this VLEC is the best vessel type for long-distance transportation of ethane, with remarkable economic and social benefits.
It is reported that this vessel type has won the highest award of China Shipbuilding Engineering Society – the Grand Prize of Scientific and Technological Progress. This vessel type is characterized by “leading design, advanced technology, green environmental protection, high efficiency and energy saving, comfortable environment and intelligent management”.
As a flagship product of Jiangnan Shipyard, 99,000m3 VLEC is designed with new concepts, while the construction technology and pace are also improving and speeding up to better show Jiangnan brand and Jiangnan speed. As the second vessel of the series and the last one of the 1.5 versions of 99,000 cbm VLEC built by Jiangnan Shipyard for Southwest Maritime, the vessel has made new breakthroughs in both the dock and quay construction phases.
It is worth mentioning that this vessel is the 17th vessel Jiangnan Shipyard has built for Southwest Maritime.