On October 10, the second ultra-large ethane carrier (Hull H2725) “GAS MINJIANG” built by China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Jiangnan Shipbuilding for AW Shipping, a joint venture between Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Wanhua Chemical, was signed and delivered.
From AW Shipping’s order of 5 VLGCs at Jiangnan Shipbuilding in 2020, to its subsequent order of 4 VLACs and 9 VLECs in 2024, the increasing cooperation signifies its deepening trust in Jiangnan Shipbuilding. By continuously delivering high-quality vessels, Jiangnan is helping the shipowner expand its capacity for long-distance ethane transportation, supporting its future strategic growth.
This vessel type belongs to the PANDA® 98E series independently developed and designed by Jiangnan. Notably, its core low-temperature cargo containment system is the independently innovated BrillianceE® Type B tank.
This vessel type has an overall length of 230 meters, a molded breadth of 36.6 meters, and a molded depth of 22.5 meters. It is suitable for transporting various liquefied gases such as ethane, ethylene, and LPG. It boasts advantages including low fuel (gas) consumption, low Boil-Off Rate (BOR), no loading level restrictions, and low maintenance costs, making it the optimal vessel type “tailor-made” for long-distance ethane transport, with significant economic and social benefits. This vessel type has received the highest award in the shipbuilding industry – the Special Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress. The vessel type features “leading design, advanced technology, environmental friendliness, high efficiency and energy saving, comfortable environment, and intelligent management.”
As the second vessel in the series, the construction team fully planned and rationally allocated various tasks. Through meticulous planning, they successfully mitigated the impact of a more than one-month delay in the delivery of the main engine and SCR system, while also overcoming the effects of the rainy season to ensure its launch status.
During the quayside phase, the construction team steadily and orderly advanced planned projects despite the tight schedule. The vessel achieved the “three clearances before sea trials,” meaning clearance of all mooring test items, clearance of all mooring comments, and clearance of all painting items. By reasonably arranging test items, the planned sea trial tasks were completed in just 6 days, making it one of the shortest sea trial cycles for a 98,000 cubic meter VLEC to date. Furthermore, comments from the preceding vessel were compiled and addressed during construction, resulting in a 58% reduction in the number of sea trial comments compared to the previous vessel. These were largely cleared after two weeks of intensive rectification, facilitating the on-schedule delivery after the National Day holiday.
