Capital Gas takes delivery of LNG newbuilding

Reports on the company’s LNG newbuilding orders from UK-based BRL Shipping Consultants in 2019 revealed the vessel would have WinGD X-DF gas-injection, dual-fuel engines and Mark III Flex cargo containment systems. The ship had been set for delivery in December 2020.

Evangelos Marinakis-led Capital Gas said its new vessel would be chartered to energy major BP for up to 12 years.

The company has confirmed names for all seven of the newbuilds: Aristos I, Aristidis I, Aristarchos, Attalos, Adamastos, Asklipios and Asterix I, respectively. All the LNG carriers have been set for delivery in 2020 and 2021, apart from Asterix I, which is set for delivery in 2023. The first six vessels are Malta-flagged and the seventh will be flagged under the Marshall Islands ship registry.

"With cargo capacity of 174,000 m³, [Aristidis I] is highly efficient, propelled with XDF engines and equipped with the latest available technologies, including an air lubrication system and increased filling limits (more than 99%). It is the second of seven sister ships to be delivered between 2020-2023," a statement from the company said.

Mr Marinakis established Capital Gas Shipmanagement Corporation in 2018, when the shipping company’s first four ships were ordered at HHI under a US$744M contract.

In July 2019, Mr Marinakis signed a letter of intent with HHI to build up to 10 LNG carriers in the 170,000-180,000 m³ size range. Reports at the time said an initial order for four ships would be accompanied by two sets of options consisting of three vessels each.

The shipowner’s long-established shipping company Capital Ship Management Corp operates a 60-vessel fleet, comprising 41 tankers, four bulk carriers and 15 container ships.

With LNG demand continuing to rise globally, Greek shipowners have been aggressively expanding their LNG carrier fleets in recent years.