Celsius Tankers, a unit of Danish owner Celsius Shipping, has added to its LNG carrier orderbook in China.
The Jeppe Jensen-led owner has taken option on two more 180,000 cu m ships at China Merchants Heavy Industry Jiangsu (CMHI), firming up six units at the yard.
A deal, earlier reported by Splash, which marked the official entry of another Chinese yard into the LNG sector, comprised four firm and four optional ships.
The first four ships have already been fixed on long-term charters with Clearlake Shipping, a subsidiary of commodity trading giant Gunvor, and will be delivered in 2026 and 2027.
Two of these ships will be funded via a joint venture with an affiliate of Boston-based infrastructure investor ArcLight Capital Partners. Gunvor will also have a significant stake in the other two newbuilds, which is the first for any independent LNG trader.
The option exercised for an additional two newbuilds was revealed during the steel-cutting ceremony at CMHI for Celsius’ first ship. The duo is set to deliver in the first and fourth quarters of 2027.
Celsius Tankers’ LNG carrier fleet now totals 20 vessels, with four in operation and 16 on order. The company has also secured four more optional LNG vessel slots at CMHI, potentially taking its orderbook at the yard to 12 units.
