BW LPG, a unit of the Singapore-based gas shipping giant BW, is continuing with its programme aimed at converting 12 VLGCs to dual-fuel propulsion.
China’s Yiu Lian shipyard started retrofitting the second carrier BW Leo to LPG dual-fuel propulsion on Thursday, BW said in a statement.
To remind, the first vessel BW Gemini arrived at the Chinese yard on August 10. In an update last week, BW said the ship was ready for commissioning and gas trials.
When complete, the 2015-built BW Gemini would become the world’s first vessel with LPG dual-fuel propulsion technology onboard, the firm claims.
BW expects the works to take about two months per vessel with the last retrofit scheduled to complete in the second half of 2021.
The company will invest over $100 million in upgrading a part of its fleet to LPG dual-fuel propulsion as it looks to comply with the new IMO rules and slash emissions.
BW’s LPG unit owns and operates a fleet of 46 VLGCs, with an average age of 8.7 years.