Oslo: Avance Gas has said that both new build VLGCs recently drydocked, Breeze (83,000dwt, built 2015) and Monsoon (83,000dwt, built 2015), have completed warranty repairs related to defective stern tube bearings.
The vessels went in for repair after Monsoon ran into technical difficulties in March during its maiden voyage from Panama to China, just 11 weeks after being delivery from Zhoushan Shipyard in China.
Breeze left the drydock at Jurong Shipyard last week and is currently undergoing testing before commencing gassing up operations on Wednesday, while Monsoon left the drydock at Zhoushan Shipyard over the weekend and will carry out trials before commencing gassing up operations on June 6.
Both vessels are scheduled to load in the Middle East mid-June and trade in the spot market.
Talking to Splash recently about the matter, Avance Gas CEO Christian Andersen said: “We do not see that the incidents on Monsoon and Breeze say anything on ships built in China on a general matter. However, we are working to sharpen up the delivery procedures on the five remaining ships in the series of eight ships.”
Zhoushan Shipyard has suffered a series of issues building the eight vessels. Last April, a fire broke out on board one of the newbuildings although no injuries were reported with the fire extinguished almost immediately. Later in August, another fire broke out on one of the vessels, taking two hours to be put out.
