Vlec News

Technology group Wärtsilä has secured an order from Jiangnan Shipyard to supply cargo handling and fuel gas supply systems for five new very large ethane carrier (VLEC) vessels.The ships are being built for Chinese owners. The order follows a similar order for cargo handling and fuel gas supply systems placed by the yard in 2023 for four VLECs.The new 99,000 m3 capacity VLECs are mainly designed to transport ethane, and will use ethane as fuel.As part of the cargo handling and fuel gas supply systems scope…

French engineering company GTT has received an order from its partner Jiangnan Shipyard (Group) for the tank design of six Ultra Large Ethane Carriers (ULEC), on behalf of ship-owner Eastern Pacific Shipping.GTT will design the tanks of these unique ULEC, which will each offer a capacity of 150,000 m3, the largest ever to be built for ethane transport.The tanks will be fitted with the Mark III membrane containment system developed by GTT. The delivery of the vessels is scheduled…

Wärtsilä Gas Solutions, part of technology group Wärtsilä, will supply cargo handling and fuel supply systems for three new large sized ethane gas carrier (VLEC) vessels being built for Purus.The ships are under construction at the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) yard in South Korea.In line with the Purus’ emphasis on achieving net zero carbon emissions for its fleet by 2030, the new vessels are designed to be as efficient as possible in all respects.The Wärtsilä cargo handling…

French engineering company GTT has received two orders for the tank design of three new Very Large Ethane Carrier (VLEC) newbuilds.The order is from HD Hyundai Heavy Industries on behalf of an Asian shipowner, GTT informed.The French company will design the tanks for these three vessels, which will each offer a total capacity of 98,000 m3.The tanks will be fitted with the Mark III membrane containment system developed by GTT. The new order brings to 25 the number of VLECs (ordered…

UK-headquartered shipowner Purus has selected DNV to class its two Very Large Ethane Carriers (VLEC) newbuilds.The vessels have been contracted at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) in South Korea and scheduled for delivery in 2026-2027.With a cargo carrying capacity of 98,000cbm, the two VLECs will be fitted with GTT’s Mark III membrane containment system.The vessels will be equipped with dual-fuel ethane engines and optimized cargo handling systems to reduce emissions and will also be EEDI Phase III compliant.Once delivered…

Finland-based marine equipment and technology group Wärtsilä has won a contract with Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) shipyard to supply the cargo handling and integrated fuel gas supply systems for Very Large Ethane Carrier (VLEC) vessels. This latest order, booked by Wärtsilä in Q1, 2023, is for two VLECs being built for Japanese ship owner Iino Line.The Wärtsilä equipment is scheduled for delivery to the yard in mid-2024.In February 2023, Wärtsilä secured a contract to deliver…

MISC Berhad (MISC) has taken delivery of its sixth Very Large Ethane Carrier (VLEC) – Seri Elbert, from Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea. Seri Elbert and her sister vessels - Seri Everest, Seri Erlang, Seri Emei, Seri Emory and Seri Emperor are a series of second generation VLECs – all of which were acquired by MISC from Zhejiang Satellite Petrochemical Co. Ltd. (STL) in July 2020.See related story on Seri Everest, one of Maritime Reporter & Engineeering News' Great Ships of 2020Mr.

Dallas-based Energy Transfer said Tuesday it had loaded the first Very Large Ethane Carrier (VLEC) - the world's largest at that -  under its previously announced joint venture with Satellite Petrochemical USA Corp. called Orbit Gulf Coast NGL Exports.The Seri Everest, the world’s largest VLEC, departed from JV Orbit’s newly constructed export facilities at Energy Transfer’s Nederland Terminal in Nederland, Texas, on Jan. 17, 2021, to complete its maiden voyage.The vessel was loaded with more than 911…

Maritime classification society ABS will class four new 98,000 cbm Very Large Ethane Carriers (VLECs) ordered by China's Zhejiang Satellite Petrochemical (STL)These ethane-fueled VLECs are part of a Phase-2 order from STL and South Korea's Samsung Heavy Industries and Hyundai Heavy Industries will build two VLECs each.ABS, which was the classification society of choice for the first order of the six dedicated VLECs by Reliance Industries in 2014, says that these 87,000 cbm VLECs have been successfully trading and laid the foundation for the next generation of larger VLECs.

Danish gas ship owner Evergas announced that the worlds first Type-C 85,000m3 very large ethane carrier (VLEC) JS INEOS MARLIN was successfully delivered to INEOS Trading and Shipping.The vessel will carry ethane from US to China, said a press release from the company.The vessel has the largest Type-C tank ever made and Evergas has pushed the limit to 85000 CBM with a newly constructed Trilobe tank.The Dual-fuel Engine is over 16000 Kw from MAN Dual-fuel engines and MAN Alpha Propellers and is fueled by ethane, the vessel’s cargo.Guests at the ceremony included Godmother of the vessel Mrs. Aimee Ratcliffe, spouse of Sam Ratcliffe – INEOS and David Thompson, CEO Trading & Shipping – INEOS.

The international shipping company based in Tokyo Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd (MOL) and Reliance Ethane Holding (REHPL) a 100% subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd(RIL) and based in Singapore agreed to co-owning of six very large ethane carriers (VLECs) which are currently fully owned by REHPL.VLEC is designed for transportation of liquified ethane which has over 80,000m3 of tank capacity. The vessels which transport liquified ethane at - 92 degrees have GTT Mark III membrane system and reliquefaction system.VLEC is between LNG carrier which transports liquified natural gas at 162 degrees and LPG carrier which transports liquified propane…

Japanese shipping giant Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) will buy Reliance Industries (RIL) stakes in Singapore-based Reliance Ethane Holding (REHPL) which has a fleet of six very large ethane carriers (VLECs).RIL has 100% holding in six limited liability companies (LLCs) which own the VLECs. "MOL and a strategic minority investor have signed binding definitive agreements for an investment in the six special purpose limited liability companies each owning a VLEC," said a statement from the Mukesh Ambani-led Indian conglomerate holding.Transaction closing is subject to regulatory approvals. Post closing special purpose vehicles (SPVs) for LLCs shall be jointly controlled by REHPL and MOL.P.M.S.