MOL, Reliance to Co-Own World’s 6 Largest Ethane Carrier

The international shipping company based in Tokyo Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd (MOL) and Reliance Ethane Holding (REHPL) a 100% subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd(RIL) and based in Singapore agreed to co-owning of six very large ethane carriers (VLECs) which are currently fully owned by REHPL.

VLEC is designed for transportation of liquified ethane which has over 80,000m3 of tank capacity. The vessels which transport liquified ethane at - 92 degrees have GTT Mark III membrane system and reliquefaction system.

VLEC is between LNG carrier which transports liquified natural gas at 162 degrees and LPG carrier which transports liquified propane gas at - 42 degrees.

The six VLECs were delivered in 2016-2017 and have been engaged for transportation of Liquefied Ethane from Houston (US Gulf coast) to Reliance facilities at Dahej in West coast of India.

MOL has been involved right from the ship building supervision stage at Samsung Heavy Industries yard in Korea and in the operation of the VLECs thereafter.

Prior to this transaction, MOL and RIL have cooperated in the transportation of crude oil on VLCC's. These VLEC vessels are being built by Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI).

After two and a half years of efficient and safe operation of VLEC's as well, MOL, through this strategic investment, shall now to be a stakeholder in terms of co-owning of the six  VLECs.

It is pertinent to record that MOL is the only Japanese shipping company and the largest VLEC operator in the world. This development is in line with MOL's philosophy of aiming to for Higher Competitiveness in the field in terms of safety and reliable ocean-going transportation and meaningful contribution to the emerging energy transportation scenario.