ABS chosen to class world's first very-large ethane carrier

ABS, a leading provider of classification services to the maritime and offshore industries, has been chosen to class the world's first contracted series of very large ethane carriers (VLECs), the company announced on Tuesday.

The class contract for the ships, which will be built in Korea by Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) for an Asian shipowner, represents another gas ship milestone for ABS.

"We are delighted to have received the class contract for the world's first large ethane carriers," said Patrick Janssens, ABS vice president of global gas solutions.

"As a result of the shale gas boom in the US, ethane is developing as an exciting new market with great potential, requiring the development of new ship types. This award is an industry testament to the diversity of ABS' technical knowledge and our commitment to remain at the forefront of classification for gas carriers." 

The contract is for six 87,000 m3 VLECs and available options. The ships will be built at SHI's main shipyard in Geoje, Korea. ABS, which currently has the largest share of the global orderbook for LNG vessels being built to its class.

ABS says it has extensive technical experience with the full scope of gas-related assets, ranging from LNG bunker barges to FLNG units and was recently awarded the classification of the first compressed natural gas (CNG) carriers.

In May, ABS announced its first classification contract for a floating LNG facility from PETRONAS, Malaysia's national oil company.

The VLEC award marks one year since ABS unveiled its global gas solutions team, a multidisciplinary group of gas specialists formed to respond to the escalating number of gas-related projects, including LNG and LPG transportation, and the growing use of LNG and LPG as fuel for the commercial fleet.

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