Chemical giant Wanhua Chemical Group Co. Ltd. has returned to CSSC Jiangnan Shipbuilding to place an order for three additional very large ethane carriers (VLECs), bringing its order book for VLECs at JNSG to six, according to Trade Winds. The other three 99,000 cbm VLECs will be ordered in 2022 at a cost of $128 million per vessel and are expected to be delivered in 2024.
The latest order was placed by AW Shipping Limited, a joint venture between Wanhua Chemical and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), and the two sides signed a shipbuilding contract in October this year, with a total order value of about $480 million (RMB 3.429 billion) and a single ship cost of about $160 million, which is expected to be delivered to the shipowner by the end of 2027 respectively, the sources said. The vessels are expected to be delivered to the shipowners by the end of 2027.
In 2020, AW Shipping has ordered five 86,000m3 VLGCs from Jiangnan Shipbuilding, the first three of which were signed and entered into force in July 2020, and the remaining two in November of the same year.
This series of VLGCs is Jiangnan Shipbuilding’s self-developed and designed “PANDA 86P”, which follows the design concept of “high efficiency, environmental protection and safety”, adopts the A-type cargo enclosure system, and is configured with axle-belt generator and LPG dual fuel propulsion system, which can satisfy the new IGC Code, NOx emission standards, and the requirements of the IGC Code and LPG emission standards. It meets the new IGC Code, NOx emission Tier III standard and Sox emission standard, and is characterized by good economy, compatibility, reliability and environmental friendliness. The overall length is 230 meters, width 36.6 meters, depth 22.2 meters and design draft 11.5 meters. It has now been fully completed and delivered.
The 99000m3 VLEC belongs to Jiangnan Shipbuilding “Panda” series, which serves the long-distance transportation of liquefied ethane. It is designed to have an overall length of 230 meters, a width of 36.6 meters, a depth of 22.5 meters, and is equipped with four “BrilliancE” B-type liquid cargo tanks and two C-type deck tanks, which are the first time in the world to adopt B-type tanks and the largest capacity of 99000 cubic meters. BrilliancE” B-type liquid cargo tanks and two C-type deck tanks, with a maximum capacity of 99,000 cubic meters, which is the first VLEC in the world adopting B-type tanks with the largest capacity.