OREANDA-NEWS. Petrochemical and NGL shipper Evergas ordered four option two ethane/ethylene carriers from JHW Engineering for 2018 delivery.

The INEOS Max ships can carry 10pc additional ethane than more recently delivered 27,500 m3 vessels. Evergas so far has taken delivery of three of eight 27,500 m3 carriers to deliver Marcellus ethane to INEOS' petrochemical plants in Europe. With the delivery of the larger ships starting 2018, more of the smaller vessels will be available for LNG transport.

The newbuilds come as the US ramps up its ethane export capacity, with exports from both the Marcus Hook terminal near Philadelphia and the new terminal on the Houston Ship Channel slated to begin in 2016.