China’s New Times Shipbuilding hosted a launching ceremony for one LNG-powered bulk carrier it is building for Singapore’s Eastern Pacific Shipping.
NTS floated out the 210,000-dwt LNG dual-fuel bulk carrier, Mount Ossa, on May 17.
The Chinese yard is building in total eleven 210,000-dwt LNG dual-fuel bulk carriers for EPS and this is the final 299.95 meters long vessel in this batch.
In 2022, EPS took delivery of the 209,000-dwt Mount Tourmaline and the 209,000-dwt, Mount Nova Terra, the first and second LNG-powered Newcastlemax bulk carriers in its fleet.
China’s Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding, a part of CSSC, built these two ships which serve Australian miner BHP under long-term charters.
New Times also delivered the 210,000-dwt LNG-powered bulk carrier, Mount Gaea, in November 2022 and this vessel serves BHP under a charter deal as well.
BHP has chartered in total five LNG-fueled Newcastlemax bulk carriers from EPS, while Rio Tinto took on charter six LNG dual-fueled Newcastlemax vessels.
EPS recently completed its 200th ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operation, as the company’s fleet of LNG-fueled vessels continues to expand.
The firm has a large fleet of LNG-powered vessels, including containerships, tankers, bulkers, and pure car and truck carriers.
According to its website, EPS has 74 dual-fuel vessels in its fleet of 250 managed vessels.