They will be powered by a single MAN B&W ME-GI low-speed, dual-fuel engine. The engines will run on ethane, which ethylene carriers are also equipped to transport and is the first time ethane has been used as fuel for a deepsea vessel.
Hartmann Schiffahrt, the German shipowning and management group, acted as technical leader on the LEGC project, while Gaschem Service, another Hartmann division, will be commercially responsible for the employment of the vessel.
They are scheduled for delivery in August, October and December 2016 respectively.
MDT said that ethane was chosen as fuel, in preference to HFO, due to its more competitive pricing, as well as the significantly shorter bunkering time needed.
As a fuel, its emissions profile is also superior to HFO – in which respect it is similar to methane – and compared to HFO contains negligible sulphur, 15-20% lower CO2and emits significantly fewer particles under combustion.
The engine manufacturer also said that the ME-GI engines to be installed can easily be converted to run on methane as an alternative, if desired.
Other orders reported recently include four stainless steel 38,000 dwt chemical tankers at Jiangsu Hantong Ship Heavy Industry for $53 mill each.
Deliveries will start from the second half of 2016.
AVIC Dingheng has been awarded contracts from Danish owner Nordic Tankers to build six stainless steel 24,000 dwt chemical tankers with options for six more, for about $40 mill per vessel.
Deliveries are scheduled for 2016 and 2017.
This is the second chemical tanker order for AVIC Dingheng this year, according to SinoShip news, as the yard received an order for five 25,000 dwt tankers, plus five options, from Chemical Transport in March of this year.