Copenhagen-based Celsius Tankers has ordered a pair of 180,000 m3 LNG carriers, plus two options, at the Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) yard in Korea. The contract marks the company’s first foray into the LNG sector, although it operates a significant fleet of stainless steel chemical tankers and a pair of 9,000 m3, 2008-built liquefied ethylene gas carriers.
Celsius Tankers is an affiliate of Celsius Shipping, a company also active in the container feeder vessel and bulk carrier sectors. The Celsius Group has the backing of the Breakwater Capital financial services organisation.
The 180,000 m3 pair for Celsius Tankers at SHI will have GTT Mark III Flex membrane tank containment systems and are priced at US$187M each. The provision of a reliquefaction plant on each ship will help optimise cargo outturns.
SHI further stated that it will equip the vessels with environmental and fuel-saving technologies, including an optimised hull design and propulsion system. The vessels will be the world’s first LNG carriers to be equipped with Samsung’s air lubrication system.
Known as SAVER Air, the technology is utilised to spray air at the bottom of the ship to form an air layer between the hull surface and sea water to reduce frictional drag. SHI has previously fitted the system on the 23,000 TEU mega containership ordered by MSC at the yard in 2017.
A total of 31 vessels valued at $3.3Bn have been ordered at SHI so far in 2018. LNG carriers account for seven of this complement.
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