Idan Ofer’s Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) has placed a landmark order for ultra large ethane carriers (ULECs) in China.

According to multiple shipbuilding sources， the Singapore-based diversified owner has booked six 150，000 cu m vessels at Jiangnan Shipyard， marking a world’s first for this ship type， with more orders for similar units on the horizon.

The 274-m-long newbuilds， costing around $200m each， are backed by charter contracts from China’s Satellite Chemical， resembling the EPS’ entry into the ethane trades in 2020 with an initial order for four 98，000 cu m vessels to carry ethane from the US Gulf Coast to Asia for the same charterer.

Deliveries are expected to start in 2027， and the vessels should have a loading capacity 50% higher than the current world’s largest very large ethane carrier and likely be equipped with Jiangnan’s second-generation “BrilliancE II” B-type tank， which recently secured a stamp of approval from class society ABS.

Work on the ULECs started a few years back when French gas containment system provider GTT teamed up with several shipyards and designers， including Jiangnan， to develop designs for vessels with greater cargo capacities.

Jiangnan already has the world’s largest VLEC under its belt delivered to Ineos in late 2021. The 99，000 cu m Pacific Ineos Belstaff was the first in a series of several other units with the same capacity delivered by the yard， which had also recently secured contracts for nine newbuilds from AW Shipping， a joint venture of ADNOC Logistics & Services (ADNOC L&S) and China’s Wanhua Chemical Group.

Meanwhile， industry sources suggest another deal in South Korea for ULECs is on the cards for EPS with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. The builder， earlier contracted by EPS for 98，000 cu m vessels， is reportedly in line for up to four 150，000 cu m newbuilds.