World’s Largest VLEC Delivered in Shanghai

PACIFIC INEOSGRENADIER, a very large ethane carrier (VLEC) with a capacity of 99,000 cubic meters, the largest of its kind in the world, was delivered in Shanghai on May 16.

Built by Jiangnan Shipyard (Group) Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited (CSSC), the VLEC was the first ship delivered by the company after its resumption of production since April 23.

The VLEC is equipped with the "BrilliancE" Type-b liquid cargo tank with independent intellectual property rights and two deck tanks, as well as a dual-fuel main engine and an axle generator, which meets the highest emission requirement and has the most efficient performance.

PACIFIC INEOSGRENADIER, the VLEC with a capacity of 99,000 cubic meters, the largest of its kind in the world, is delivered to PACIFIC GAS in Shanghai on May 16. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

A part of the "Panda" series of Jiangnan Shipyard (Group) Co., Ltd., the VLEC has been registered in both the China Classification Society (CCS) and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), meeting the latest International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code) and other regulations made by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG).

Once operational, the VLEC will be used for long-distance transport of liquid ethane.

It's worth mentioning that the VLEC is the world's first civil commercial carrier to implement the Infectious Disease Mitigation-Arrangements (IDM-A) approved by the ABS. Its strengthened health and anti-disease and quarantine system can effectively stop and control the spread of infectious diseases.

Despite the outbreak of COVID-19, Jiangnan Shipyard (Group) Co., Ltd., has demonstrated outstanding performance since early this year. 

It accepted orders valued 16.4 billion yuan ($2.45 billion) by May 15 this year, a year-on-year growth of 76 percent.

A view of the VLEC built by Jiangnan Shipyard (Group) Co., Ltd. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

(Executive editor: Wang Ruoting)