Gothia Tanker Alliance Lays Keel for 4th LNG-Fueled Tanker

China’s Avic Dingheng Shipbuilding has held a keel-laying ceremony for the fourth liquefied natural gas-fueled tanker being built for Swedish Gothia Tanker Alliance.

The 16,300 dwt product and chemical tanker is a part of a batch of six vessels ordered by Thun Tankers together with the alliance partners Furetank Rederi AB and Rederi AB Älvtank. The new ships are scheduled to be handed over to their owners between 2018 and 2020.

The vessels will be built to a design developed by FKAB together with Furetank, with special focus on minimal impact on the environment, with close to 50% reduction of CO2 emissions, Gothia Tanker Alliance earlier informed.

Additionally, they will fulfill the Tier III rules and have LNG for Inert gas production, power production with floating frequency, battery backup (UPS) for all vital functions to minimize use of auxiliary engines, installed ballast water cleaning system, ice class 1A and Alternative Propulsion System.

Furetank Rederi AB and its compatriot Rederi AB Älvtank will each own one of the six high quality intermediate tankers, while Thun Tankers BV will own the remaining four ships, which were ordered in 2015.

The vessels will be commercially managed by Furetank Chartering in the Gothia Tanker Alliance.

World Maritime News Staff