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Exmar takes delivery of world's first LPG-fuelled VLGC newbuild
Exmar has taken delivery of the largest, dual-fuel LPG very large gas carrier, 88,000 m3 Flanders Innovation, the first of two newbuilds for charter to Norway’s Equinor
“Being the first-ordered, most efficient and largest dual-fuel LPG carrier in the world, its successful delivery again underlines Exmar’s ability to innovate and improve industry standards,” said the company in a press statement.
While BW Gemini was the world’s first LPG-fuelled very large gas carrier (VLGC) following its retrofit in China, Flanders Innovation has the honour of being the world’s first LPG-fuelled newbuild VLGC.
Built by China’s Jiangnan Shipyard to Lloyd’s Register class, Belgium-flag, fully refrigerated VLGC Flanders Innovation has an overall length of 230 m, beam of 36.6m and draught of 11.8 m. Sister vessel Flanders Pioneer will be delivered in July 2021. Flanders Innovation will enter a five-year charter to Equinor and is financed through a sale-lease-back scheme with Japanese shipping group Doun Kisen as will be the case with its sister vessel.
“We are proud to show the world where we stand at Exmar when it comes to innovation, safety, sustainability and teamwork,” said Exmar chief executive Francis Mottrie. “Successfully completing a project of this size under current challenging circumstances is a testimony to our crew’s perseverance.”
Flanders Innovation’s two-stroke, Diesel-cycle dual-fuel MAN 6G60ME-C9.5-LGIP engines will reduce CO2 emissions by about 38% as compared to IMO reference lines for VLGCs, according to Exmar, which focused on maximising energy efficiency and minimising environmental impact during the vessel’s design and construction. Other shipowners have followed Exmar’s lead as the global orderbook has swollen to 31 LPG-fuelled VLGCs.
Jiangnan Shipyard contracted TMC Compressors to supply its Smart Air compressors for the sister vessels. TMC’s complete marine compressed air system for each VLGC consists of two Smart Air compressors for service air and two adsorption dryers for control air.
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