Imabari Shipbuilding awarded two LNG carriers contracts from Elcano

Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. has signed shipbuilding contracts for two vessels in Spain. The order for these vessels was received by Imabari in cooperation with Mitsubishi Corporation as a project before foundation of MI LNG Company, the Group said in a press release.

These two LNG Carriers will be built at Saijo Shipyard in 2017 and delivered to the Spanish shipping company Elcano for their use by the Spanish gas operator Gas Natural.

Based on the Panama Canal expansion and diversified LNG market, these LNG Carriers dramatically increase its capacity from 154,000m³ to 178,000m³ with GTT MarkIII Flex, reducing BOR from 0.15% to 0.1%, and its re-liquefaction system ensures the vessels' operational flexibility. In addition to the "twin-engines, twin-propeller & twin rudders" and the optimized hull shape, the MEGI engine with the high efficient gas supply system, which improves fuel consumption performance for 40% from conventional steam turbine ships, makes the vessels have state-of-the-art technologies.

Imabari will continue to build high quality and environmental-friendly LNG carriers which can be highly rated by crews, flexibly suitable for diversified LNG trades after the Shale Gas Revolution.

The Imabari Shipbuilding Group specializes in constructing and repairing a wide range of ships. More than 90 ships are constructed annually based in 3 business offices and 8 shipyards concentrated in the Seto Inland Sea region.The Group's sales and marketing departments are headquartered in the Tokyo Branch Office.