Turkey’s Icdas has started building the first two out of four LNG dual-fuel chemical tankers for Norwegian shipping firm Utkilen.
To mark the construction start, Icdas held a steel-cutting ceremony on July 19, Utkilen said in a social media post.
The firm said it expects to take delivery of the first vessel in early 2024.
Utkilen ordered these four ships at the Turkish shipbuilder earlier this year.
This order is part of Utkilen’s investment in “green technology” worth more than 125 million euros ($127 million).
The 6,700-dwt vessels will run on LNG and gas oil, with a view of using methanol and ammonia in the future, according to the firm.
VesselsValue data shows Utkilen would take delivery of two ships in 2024 and two in 2025.
In addition to these newbuilds, four of Utkilen’s existing modern ships would become “more eco-friendly when they are prepared for LNG fuel during 2022/23,” the firm said.