• 23 Apr 2019

Avenir LNG Ltd has announced the signing of contracts with Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co. Ltd. (SOE) for the construction of two 7,500 cbm LNG carriers, at its Nantong, China shipyard, with options to build two more.

Delivery of the two LNG new buildings is scheduled for May and August 2021. The ships are designed to include ice class 1B, full bunker functionality, double hull, engines that can run on both diesel and LNG and electric twin azimuth propulsion.

The order for the 7,500 cbm LNG ships replaces the previous option to build two additional ships with Keppel Singmarine which was cancelled by mutual agreement.  The original contracts, signed between Stolt-Nielsen Gas BV (SNG) and Keppel Singmarine, were for two 7,500 m3 LNG carriers, which Keppel Singmarine is actually building at their Nantong shipyard, plus an option for other two sister ships.

[caption id="attachment_18593" align="alignleft" width="158"] Mats Fagerberg | AVENIR[/caption]

The first of the 7,500 cubic meter Carriers is being delivered within this year to take service in the Mediterranean and will support the 9,000 cbm Higas depot in Santa Giusta-Oristano (Sardinia) as soon as it is ready. Avenir's strategies will be illustrated by Sales Director Mats Fagerberg at the upcoming fifth International Conference on Small Scale LNG - "The Small Scale LNG Use, Euro-Mediterranean Conference & Expo" 15-16 May in Naples.

The Company’s orderbook for new buildings remains therefore unchanged, with a total of six vessels, four 7,500 cbm LNGC’s and two 20,000 cbm LNGC’s, currently under construction.

Avenir has existing contracts in place with SOE for two 20,000 cbm LNGs. These are scheduled for delivery in Q1 2021.The contracts also include options to build up to four additional optional LNG bunkering vessels.

Avenir LNG, which  was originally formed by Stolt-Nielsen in 2017 to pursue of opportunities in small-scale LNG, is 50% owned by Stolt-Nielsen with Golar LNG Ltd and Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd each holding a 25% stake.

Source: World Maritime News