Japan’s Lepta Shipping is said to have dived into the midsize LPG carrier segment with an order for a series of 40,000-cbm newbuildings in China.
Gas players following the shipbuilding market said Lepta — a joint venture between Japanese shipowner Nissen Kaiun and trading house Mitsui & Co — has struck a deal with Yangzijiang Shipbuilding for four dual-fuel midsize gas carriers to be delivered between 2026 and 2027.
Lepta is said to be paying about $67m each for the fully refrigerated vessels, which will be able to run on LPG and conventional fuel.
They will be constructed by Jiangsu Yangzi-Mitsui Shipbuilding Co, a tie-up with Japan’s Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding.
Officials at Yangzijiang declined to comment on their yard’s ordering activities, citing contract confidentiality.
Gas players believe Lepta has ordered the vessels against charters with Exmar, as the Belgium-listed company said in its August half-year report that it had concluded a long-term time charter of four 40,000-cbm dual-fuel newbuildings with extension and purchase options.
It did not disclose the owner’s name or where the ships are being built.
TradeWinds was unable to reach Lepta for comment, while Exmar did not respond to emails seeking confirmation.
Clarksons’ Shipping Intelligence Network shows Lepta owns a fleet of 25 ships, with one LNG carrier, eight container vessels and six product/chemical tankers. The rest are bulk carriers.
Newbuilding tally
On the newbuilding front, the joint company has 29 units on order at two shipyards. Japan’s Saiki Heavy Industries is building four 40,000-dwt handysize bulkers, while Yangzijiang is constructing the remaining 25 vessels — eight container ships, six ultramax bulkers and 11 kamsarmaxes.
Nissen Kaiun is one of the largest shipowners and tonnage suppliers in Japan, with more than 170 vessels on the water, including 12 VLGCs. It has 40 vessels on order at Japanese and South Korean yards.
Singapore-listed Yangzijiang is known for building bulkers and container ships. In recent years, it has added gas vessels and oil tankers to its portfolio.
The shipyard has close to 40 tankers and five LPG carriers on its orderbook. It is building three 40,000-cbm, dual-fuel LPG carriers for Hartmann Group and two 36,000-cbm dual-fuel ethylene carriers for Ocean Yield.
