The state-owned Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) has placed on order for the construction of two liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers at a Chinese shipyard, the national news agency of Bangladesh informed.
The new ships, which will have a capacity of around 40,000 cubic meters, will be deployed to transport LNG to Bangladesh’s first LNG import terminal in Moheshkhali, Chittagong.
Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), signed between the company’s managing director Commodore Habibur Rahman Bhuiyan and the general manger of Chinese Institute of Marine, Yan Jun, the new vessels are scheduled to join BSC’s fleet in the second half of 2018.
Moheshkhali Floating LNG, a joint effort between Excelerate Energy and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), is set to receive its first LNG delivery in early 2018, according to Excelerate.
According to data provided by VesselsValue, the company currently has six vessels on order, all under construction at China’s Jiangsu New Yangzijiang shipyard.
Three of these newbuildings are 38,800 dwt Hany bulk carriers, scheduled to join their owner in July, September and Novermber of 2018. The remaining three ships on order, the 39,000 dwt MR1 tankers, are expected to be delivered in February, May and August of 2019.
Bangladesh Shipping Corporation currently operates only two 1987-built small dirty tankers, VesselsValue data shows.
World Maritime News Staff