After completing a range of shipbuilding projects in the first half of the year, Portuguese shipyard Naval Rocha said it would look to bolster its position in the LPG product carrier and small-scale LNG markets.
Previous contracts have involved livestock carriers, polar expedition vessels, and sailing vessels, and the shipyard now said it was seeing growing numbers of LPG and product carrier projects.
“As we look ahead, Naval Rocha is increasingly well placed to cater to the LPG product carrier and small-scale LNG markets,” Sergio Rodrigues, commercial director Naval Rocha, said.
“Earlier this year, our long-term client Epic Ship Management booked in for its sixth drydocking in 36-months, with two further projects scheduled for 2019/2020. The latest job involving the Epic Croix LPG tanker followed work in 2018 to Epic’s St Vincent LPG carrier. Danish shipping company Ultragas later booked in the Happy Bride LPG carrier,” the director added.
Rodrigues also revealed that the yard was considering investment in cryogenic workshops in order to stimulate greater LNG activity.
However, looking to the second half of 2019, Rodrigues said the yard’s sights remain fixed on key growth markets including LPG repair work.
“While we currently deliver an average of three major LPG projects each year there is capacity for much more. As we continue building strong experience in the LPG and product carrier market, we aim to further catapult into the LNG and chemical carrier markets, which are now being built to smaller dimensions.”