19% of Annual Order Target Achieved… “Expanding Portfolio with High Value-added Focus”
Samsung Heavy Industries announced on the 16th that it has signed a contract for two very large ethane carriers (VLECs) with an Asian shipowner for 466.1 billion won. These ships are expected to be delivered sequentially by February 2028.
Ethane carriers are high value-added eco-friendly ships that transport ethane, extracted from natural gas such as shale gas, in a liquefied state at minus 89 degrees Celsius. Back in 2014, Samsung Heavy Industries became the first in the world to receive an order for six 88,000㎥ VLECs from India’s Reliance.
Currently, Samsung Heavy Industries has a backlog of orders covering more than three years’ worth of work. Beyond liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, the company is expanding its portfolio to focus on high value-added vessels. So far this year, they have secured orders for 12 ships, including one LNG carrier, nine shuttle tankers, and two ethane carriers, totaling approximately 1.9 billion dollars in value. This accounts for 19% of their annual target of 9.8 billion dollars.
A representative from Samsung Heavy Industries stated, “There is a growing trend in orders for gas carriers, considered eco-friendly energy,” and added, “We will actively respond to changes in the market environment based on our excellent technological competitiveness.”