 "Reliance receives first ethane carrier from Samsung")
Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has received the delivery of its first very large ethane carrier (VLEC), Ethane Crystal, from Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI). Ethane Crystal is the first carrier from a series of six VLECs that were ordered by Reliance Industries from Samsung Heavy Industries in July 2014.
Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd (MOL) was appointed by Reliance to undertake site supervision of new builds and is also to be the operator and the ship manager of these vessels. “MOL will operate the fleet of six VLECs to provide efficient, safe and reliable ethane transportation for use as a feedstock in large petrochemical complexes owned and operated by Reliance Industries in Jamnagar, Gujarat,” said MOL in a press statement.
Reliance Industries will use these VLECs, which are the largest vessels ever built for transportation of ethane at an industrial scale, to transport ethane from the US to India. MOL will be the first shipping company in the world to operate such very large ethane carriers. The vessels adopt GTT Mark III as a containment system which is unique for ethane transportation, and are designed to cater to latest safety and environment regulations.
“Ethane transportation project is a splendid example where an innovative business model was used to meet the customer's requirements. MOL’s experience in LNG & LPG segments and its unmatched service, safety, reliability and efficiency precisely met the stringent requirements of Reliance prior being appointed as a suitable shipping partner for ethane transportation project,” added Mitsui OSK Lines.
Reliance Industries has been eyeing to procure US-produced ethane to feed its cracker at the Jamnagar refining and petrochemical complex in Gujarat. RIL also has invested in three shale assets in the US. Shale gas can be a low-cost source for ethane, a primary raw material or feedstock used by petrochemical companies. Ethane can be used to make plastic products that go into a wide range of industries such as cell phones, computers, tyres, construction, etc.