Evergas Adds Two More to Its Dragon Fleet

Liquid gas transporter Evergas has reached an agreement with INEOS to expand its newbuilding series of ethane/multigas vessels from six to eight units. In January 2013, Evergas announced for the first time that it had secured shipping agreements of up to 15 years with INEOS for the world’s first transatlantic shipments of ethane with commencement in 2015. The fleet of eight vessels will bring US ethane from shale gas to
INEOS’ manufacturing sites in Grangemouth, Scotland and Rafnes, Norway. Evergas said that this advantageously priced feedstock will have a highly positive impact for the company’s European operations that so far have relied on declining and expensive volumes from the North Sea.

INEOS will source its ethane feedstock from Marcus Hook and Houston, USA. “Bringing competitiveness to Europe the increased volumes of the cost-efficient US ethane feedstock will be paramount for INEOS in order to support its competitive business model,” Evergas said in a release.

 David Thompson, COO INEOS Trading & Shipping says: “The increased ethane volumes, lifted on the expanded Evergas Dragon fleet will provide us with long term security & flexibility, cost efficiency of our feedstock supplies, and importantly support the company’s competitiveness in Europe”.

 As described by Evergas, these vessels are the largest, most flexible and advanced multigas carriers yet to be built, securing INEOS with a highly flexible solution for their ethane supplies, yet at the same time providing the benefit of transporting LNG, LPG as well as petrochemical gases including ethylene.