This story requires a subscription
This includes a single user license.
The newbuild LNG carrier in question is the 174,000-cbm, Elisa Ardea, according to a social media post by Gazocean.
Gazocean said the vessel had just left the yard, and the firm will manage the vessel on behalf of France LNG Shipping (FLS).
South Korea’s HD Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries built the French-flagged LNG carrier.
The 297.23 meters long vessel has two 5X72DF WinGD engines and GTT’s Mark III membrane system.
Gazocean said this is the 12th vessel in its fleet, including five LPG carriers.
The firm did not provide further information.
Gazocean added six LNG carriers to its managed fleet from 2020 to 2022, and FLS owns all of the vessels.
French energy giant TotalEnergies took on charter four 2021-built FLS vessels and these include LNG Adventure, LNG Endeavour, LNG Endurance, and LNG Enterprise.
Moreover, the FLS LNG carriers include the 2020-built, Elisa Larus, and the 2022-built, Elisa Aquila, both chartered by units of French state-owned utility EDF.
EDF will also take on charter Elisa Ardea and the other newbuild scheduled for delivery in 2025.
Ocean Yield deal
It is worth mentioning here that KKR-backed Ocean Yield agreed in July this year to buy a stake in FLS.
FLS is a 50/50 joint venture between NYK and Geogas LNG, a firm jointly owned by CVC DIF, Access Capital Partners, and Geogas Maritime.
Ocean Yield agreed to purchase infrastructure fund CVC DIF’s share in Geogas LNG, providing an indirect economic interest of up to 34 percent in FLS.
CVC DIF will sell its interest in FLS, held through its CIF I and CIF II funds.
Ocean Yield expects to close the transaction this month.