A refinery owner turned shipowner is said to be helping Yangzijiang Shipbuilding to break into the newbuilding market for very large ethane carriers (VLECs).
Industry players said the Chinese shipyard bagged an order for three 99,000-cbm vessels from Singapore-headquartered SP Chemicals, also known as Singpu Chemicals.
Gas players say SP Chemicals has until now been operating one or two VLECs chartered from Chinese owner Pacific Gas, including the Jiangnan-built 99,000-cbm Pacific SP Minerva (built 2024).
