Jiangnan completes Southwest Maritime’s 99,000-cubic-metre ethane carrier series

China’s Jiangnan Shipyard delivered the Gas Bauhinia to Southwest Maritime on 10 November 2026, completing the shipowner’s series of 99,000-cubic-metre very large ethane carriers (VLECs). The 230-metre vessel was designed for long-haul shipments of US ethane. It can also carry ethylene and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), giving the owner flexibility to deploy it across several liquefied gas trades.

What cargoes can Gas Bauhinia carry?

Jiangnan, part of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), designed and built the vessel around its proprietary BrillianceE® Type B cargo containment system. The shipyard says the vessel is compatible with major LPG terminals worldwide, extending its potential loading and discharge options beyond terminals dedicated to ethane. Its 99,000-cubic-metre capacity measures the volume of the cargo tanks. The tonnes carried on a voyage will vary with the product loaded.

The shipyard says the containment system allows the vessel to operate without restrictions on partial filling levels and is designed to limit boil-off, the evaporation that occurs as heat enters a refrigerated cargo tank. For long voyages, a lower boil-off rate reduces the amount of vapour that must be managed. The shipyard also cites lower maintenance costs among the design’s features.

How is the ethane carrier powered?

The Gas Bauhinia has an ethane dual-fuel main engine, a shaft generator and other energy-saving systems. The engine gives the vessel the option of using ethane as a propulsion fuel. The shaft generator draws power from the propulsion system to supply onboard electricity, reducing the need to run separate auxiliary generators when operating conditions allow. Jiangnan cited low fuel consumption as a design objective but did not publish measured fuel or emissions savings for the vessel in its delivery announcement.

Why does the US ethane trade matter for large gas carriers?

Ethane is a feedstock for petrochemical plants, where it is converted into ethylene for products including plastics. The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) said US ethane exports rose 19 per cent in 2025 to an average of 579,000 barrels a day. China took just over half of those exports. Canada was the second-largest destination, receiving ethane by pipeline, and India ranked third, receiving it by tanker. The EIA attributed much of the year’s export growth to new petrochemical capacity in China and Mexico.

The Gas Bauhinia follows the Gas Begonia, another 99,000-cubic-metre ethane carrier Jiangnan delivered to Southwest Maritime in August 2026. The November handover closes the shipowner’s newbuilding series. Jiangnan did not identify a first loading port or charterer for the Gas Bauhinia in its delivery announcement.

FAQs

Who built and took delivery of the Gas Bauhinia?

Jiangnan Shipyard built the carrier and handed it over to Southwest Maritime on 10 November 2026.

Which cargo containment system does the Gas Bauhinia use?

It uses Jiangnan’s BrillianceE® Type B cargo containment system, designed for liquefied gases including ethane, ethylene and LPG.