Classification society American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has classed Navigator Aurora, the world’s largest ethane/ethylene capable liquefied gas carrier.
Earlier this month, the vessel was delivered to its owner, liquefied gas shipping company Navigator Gas, from the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shangai, China.
The Navigator Aurora is the first of four Navigator Gas ethane/ethylene midsize vessels to be delivered with ABS Class during 2016 and early 2017.
It has a cargo capacity of 37,000 cubic meters and is fitted with dual fuel engines that enable the ship to operate on either diesel fuel or LNG.
“Development of the vessel focused on opportunities arising from shale gas plays in the United States,” the classification society said.
In the coming years, we expect to see many more projects being developed to service the expanding gas export market from the United States,” Patrick Janssens, ABS Vice President of Global Gas Solutions, said.
The Navigator Aurora has been long-term chartered to export ethane from the United States to Borealis in Sweden.
The ship’s commercial operations are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2016, when it will start sailing between the Marcus Hook refinery in Pennsylvania, US, and Stenungsund in Sweden.