Singapore-based Kumiai Navigation has ordered its fourth liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)-fuelled 86,700 cu m very large gas carrier (VLGC) at Japanese shipbuilder Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI).
No price has been revealed for the 230-m-long vessel that will be delivered from KHI’s Sakaide Works in the fourth quarter of 2026 and be able to carry LPG and liquefied ammonia gas in separate cargo tanks at the same time.
The shipowner is a subsidiary of Japan’s Kumiai Senpaku and currently lists a fleet of seven VLGCs, two small LPG carriers, and 10 bulkers on its website.
All VLGC newbuilds have already been fixed on long-term contracts, with the latest unit backed by Canadian utility AltaGas.
This year kicked off with high demand for LPG/ammonia carriers, with ship orderbooks seeing double-digit growth and newbuilds mostly booked at shipyards in South Korea, while Kawasaki Heavy was among the top yards, securing a series of projects from various owners in 2022 and 2023.
