Clarksons: Sovcomflot Returns to HHI for an LNG Carrier

Russian shipping company Sovcomflot has reportedly started the year with an order for a liquified natural gas carrier (LNG) at South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI).

The company has signed a contract for one firm plus one optional 174,000 cbm LNG carrier, Clarksons Platou Shipbroking said in a weekly report.

The ship is scheduled for delivery in 2020, the report indicates.

The company is yet to confirm the deal to World Maritime News.

In March 2017, Sovcomflot ordered four 114,000 dwt Ice-Class IA Aframax tankers at the South Korean yard under a USD 240 million deal.

Described as the world’s first LNG-fueled Aframax tankers, the four ships are scheduled to be delivered from the third quarter of 2018 onwards.

The company’s order was augmented by two more 114,000 dwt dual fuel tankers slated for delivery in 2019, as reported by brokers.

It was a busy week for Hyundai, as the builder also secured an order from Cardiff Marine for up to two LNG carriers of the same size.

Under the deal, TMS Cardiff Gas has signed a contract for the construction of a 174,000 cbm LNG carrier with XDF propulsion. The contract includes an option for a second vessel.

This order is the first in the company’s X Carrier Series of orders, which expands the company’s fleet of managed vessels to ten.

The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2020, when it will enter into a seven-year time charter contract with Total Gas & Power Chartering.

World Maritime News Staff