Meyer starts work on Solvang gas tankers

Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, has cut the first steel plate for the lead-ship in a four-ship series of LEG/LPG tankers ordered by Norwegian shipowner Solvang AS. The 17,000 cubic metre gas carriers will have a length overall of 154.9 m, a breadth of 22.70 m and a service speed of 17 knots. Fully loaded with ethylene cooled down to minus 104°C, the ships will have a draught of 8.10 m. In addition to ethylene, the tankers will also be able to carry vinyl chloride monomer, ammonia and propylene oxide, cooled down to minus 48° C.

Deliveries of these specialised vessels, yard numbers S. 653, S. 654, S. 681 and S. 682, are scheduled for the 3rd and 4th quarter of 2007 and the3rd and 4th quarter of 2008. The outfitting of the vessels will involve Neptun Stahlbau in Rostock, an affiliate company of Meyer Werft,

Meyer had previously built two 12,500 cubic metre gas tankers, ?Clipper Harald? and ?Clipper Viking?, for Solvang in 1998/1999.