China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES), a unit of China Merchants Group, is planning to order two more 175,000-cbm liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers.
According to a statement by CMES, the company’s board has approved the construction of two LNG carriers with a capacity of 175,000 cbm, authorizing the management to sign the shipbuilding deals in “due course”.
CMES did not provide any additional details regarding the LNG carriers, or the yard.
The company’s board also authorized the construction of two methanol-ready Aframax tankers, it said.
CMES has six LNG carriers with a capacity of 175,000 cbm on order at China’s Dalian Shipbuilding Industry (DSIC) and two options as well.
Also, all of these LNG carriers will feature GTT’s Mark III Flex membrane containment system.
Shipbuilding sources told LNG Prime that DSIC will build these two new carriers as well.
Prior to this move, CMES ordered two 175,000-cbm LNG tankers at DSIC each worth about $235 million, for a total of six vessels.
According to the sources, the two new vessels are each expected to cost about $235 million as well.
In March last year, CMES placed an order for two dual-fuel LNG carriers for $380 million, DSIC’s first order for large LNG carriers, and after that exercised an option for two more LNG carriers worth $400 million.
