Keppel Nantong Splashes First LNG Carrier for Stolt Nielsen

China’s Keppel Nantong Shipyard has launched the first of two new 7,500 cbm LNG carriers it is building for Oslo-listed shipowner Stolt Nielsen.

According to ship designer Marine Engineering Services, the launch ceremony took place on July 20, ahead of the ship’s scheduled December 2019 delivery.

The second unit is set to be delivered in the first half of 2020. According to VesselsValue’s data, each of the carriers will feature a deadweight of 8,000 MT and have a market value of USD 34.7 million.

Keppel Nantong was set to build a total of four 7,500 cbm ships for Avenir LNG, a joint venture set up between Stolt Nielsen, Golar LNG and Höegh LNG. However, Avenir LNG announced in April 2019 that the third and fourth unit would instead be built by Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering (SOE).

SOE also has a contract with the joint venture for the construction of two 22,000 cbm LNG carriers. They are scheduled to be delivered in 2021.

Avenir LNG Limited was set up in 2018 with the purpose of developing the small scale global LNG market by sourcing, shipping, storing and distributing LNG to the end customer in areas of stranded demand.

World Maritime News Staff