Clipper Viking: first of a new class of gas tankers

Clipper Viking

is the first of a pair of 12,500m

³

gas tankers featuring an innovative nitrogen generation plant.

Based on a 15,000m

³

design developed by German shipyard Meyer Werft towards the end of the 1980s, Clipper Viking is the first ship in a two- ship order placed with the German yard in May 1997 by Skibsaksjeselskapet Solvang ASA. The original order also included an option for two more identical vessels, but recent worldwide economic conditions have led to the options being cancelled.

Modifying the design Designed to carry ethylene, vinyl chloride monomer, ammonia, propylene, propylene oxide, propane, butane and other liquified gases,

Clipper Viking

was launched from the yard of Thyssen Nordseewerke (to whom construction of the hull had been sub-contracted) in Emden, Germany in July of this year. The vessel is due to be formally handed over to its owners on 15 December 1998, and will be followed by the second ship in the series, which is due to be launched early in 1999 and delivered on 30 June 1999.