Wärtsilä to Supply Gas Handling Systems for VLEC Newbuilds

Six new 87,000 cubic meters capacity very large ethane carriers (VLECs), being built at the Samsung Heavy Industries yard in South Korea, will feature Wärtsilä gas handling systems. The contract, which includes an option for additional vessels within this series, was signed in September, and deliveries of the Wärtsilä solutions are expected to commence at the end of 2016 and complete in 2017.

These vessels will reportedly be the largest ethane carriers ever built and represent a new generation of such vessels mainly transporting ethane as feed stock to the petrochemical industry.

The VLECs are being built for the Reliance Group, India's largest private sector enterprise. The group has businesses in the energy and materials value chain, including petrochemicals. The new vessels will carry ethane from American shale gas to India to be processed for making plastic.

Wärtsilä's scope of supply represents a complete cargo handling package for each ship, including the process and arrangement engineering; the deck tank; all equipment related to the cargo handling; and a purpose-built reliquefaction plant to handle the C-ethane from the American shale gas.

"This is a valuable order and one that again emphasizes Wärtsilä's competences and experience in gas handling systems. These state-of-the-art ethane carriers require state-of-the-art gas handling systems. Our technology and know-how in this field uniquely positions us to offer the most appropriate solutions for VLEC's, which is an application that is rapidly expanding," said Timo Koponen, Vice President, Flow and Gas Solutions, Wärtsilä Ship Power.