Gas Begonia, a very large ethane carrier (VLEC) built by Jiangnan Shipyard, under China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited, was successfully delivered to its customer Southwest Maritime Limited on August 18. It is the eighth 99,000‑cubic‑meter VLEC Jiangnan Shipyard has built for the company.
Gas Begonia, a very large ethane carrier built by China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited´s Jiangnan Shipyard, is delivered on Aug 18. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
The 230-meter-long vessel can transport multiple liquefied energy and industrial gases, such as ethane, ethylene and liquefied petroleum gas. With low fuel consumption and maintenance costs, it is particularly suited for long‑distance transport, making it an economical and environmentally friendly vessel.
Sustained typhoon conditions delayed the vessel’s sea trials by 10 days, but the shipbuilding team completed the standard sea trials in only six days, thanks to its elaborate planning and close collaboration.
The vessel is an outcome of tripartite cooperation among Jiangnan Shipyard, Southwest Maritime Limited and the American Bureau of Shipping, a maritime classification agency in the United States. The effective communication among the shipbuilder, shipowner and classification society significantly streamlined the sea-trial process and improved overall efficiency. The vessel was eventually delivered 140 days ahead of schedule.
(Executive editor: Zuo Shihan)
