South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries recently delivered a 200,000 m3 LNG carrier, Clean Destiny, to Dynagas, the liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipping company owned by Greek shipowner George Procopiou.
The Clean Destiny is 299.8 meters long, 48.9 meters wide and 26.9 meters high. Built by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Ulsan Shipyard, the vessel is equipped with a membrane sealing system and a re-liquefaction system developed by France’s GTT to reduce gas evaporation. The vessel has signed a 10-year charter agreement with US LNG export giant Cheniere Energy. Another vessel of the same type, the Clean Resolution, delivered in September, will also be chartered by Cheniere. The order was signed in 2021.
Dynagas has ordered several large LNG carriers from HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. In addition to the new vessels ordered in 2021, Dynagas ordered three 200,000 m3 LNG carriers from HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in 2022, which are expected to be delivered in 2025. In January 2023, the two parties signed a contract for the construction of three 200,000 m3 LNG carriers, with the new vessels to be built by Ulsan Shipyard at a cost of approximately US$261 million per vessel, with deliveries scheduled to begin in the first half of 2026 in batches.
It is said to be the world’s first order for LNG carriers in 2023.In May 2023, Dynagas again ordered two additional 200,000 m3 LNG carriers from the South Korean shipyard at a cost of approximately $277 million per vessel, also built by Ulsan Shipyard, with deliveries scheduled to follow in 2027.
Notably, Dynagas is also the first owner to place an order with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries for a 200,000 m3 class LNG carrier. Dynagas has increased the size of its vessels in consideration of the fact that larger vessels are cheaper to transport and reduce pollutant emissions.