ABS gets ethane carrier class contract

The ships will be built in Korea by Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) for an Asian shipowner, The contract is for six 87,000m³ VLECs and available options.

ABS claims the largest share of the current global orderbook for LNG vessels being built to its class, and says it has built a large team of qualified gas surveyors at shipyards across Korea.

“We are delighted to have received the class contract for the world’s first large ethane carriers,” said ABS vice-president of global gas solutions Patrick Janssens. “As a result of the shale gas boom in the US, ethane is developing as an exciting new market with great potential, requiring the development of new ship types. This award is an industry testament to the diversity of ABS’ technical knowledge and our commitment to remain at the forefront of classification for gas carriers.”

The VLEC contract marks one year since ABS unveiled its Global Gas Solutions team, a multidisciplinary group of gas specialists formed to respond to the escalating number of gas-related projects, including LNG and LPG transportation, and the growing use of LNG and LPG as fuel for the commercial fleet.