Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has taken delivery of the Ethane Crystal, the world’s first very large ethane carrier (VLEC) which was built for Mumbai-based Reliance Industries Limited (Reliance), from South Korean shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI).
The 80,000 cbm Ethane Crystal is the first in a series of six VLECs ordered by Reliance from SHI in July 2014.
Under the agreement signed in December 2014, MOL was appointed by Reliance to undertake site supervision of newbuilds and to be operator and ship manager of the vessels.
Last month, the Ethane Crystal and its sister vessel, the Ethane Emerald, were inaugurated in Geoje, South Korea. The ships are said to be the largest VLECs ever built.
Featuring a length of 227.85 meters and a width of 36.49 meters, the 57,494 dwt Ethane Crystal has membrane technology provided by French marine engineering company Gaztransport et Technigaz (GTT).
The six ethane carriers will be used to transport ethane from the United States to India.
With a market value of USD 97.12 million per ship, the remaining four VLECs being built for Reliance are scheduled for delivery in 2017, according to data provided by VesselsValue.