V.Ships has secured a contract to manage what may be the world’s first dual-fuel VLCC.
The 300,000-dwt Eagle Valence, owned by Malaysia’s AET, was unveiled in a virtual naming ceremony last month at Samsung Heavy Industries in South Korea.
V.Ships will run the LNG and diesel-powered ship from its office in Nantes, France.
The title of world’s first dual-fuel VLCC is disputed by Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation.
The Chinese company claimed it took delivery of its 319,000-dwt Yuan Rui Yang (built 2022) from Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co before AET got its hands on the Eagle Valence.
V.Ships called the Eagle Valence “one of” the world’s first dual-fuel VLCCs.
“The vessel represents a game-changer in conventional energy shipping, with a carbon footprint reduction that is contributing to AET’s aspiration to meet or exceed IMO’s 2030 greenhouse gas goals,” AET said.
Thierry Sarrazin, general manager of V.Ships France, added: “We have been on this journey for some time now, preparing for dual-fuelled vessels utilising our LNG experience as a starting position to satisfy industry requirements.”
TotalEnergies, which has taken the Eagle Valence on a long-term charter, said a sistership will be delivered in the second quarter of this year.
When they were contracted in 2020, newbuilding sources priced the AET pair at less than $105m each.
The Eagle Valence was the second LNG dual-fuel VLCC to be ordered, after the Cosco tanker.
“We believe we need to work in close partnership with our customers to address the climate emergency and drive the use of cleaner energy while reducing emissions,” Sarrazin said.
“We are extremely proud to be partnering with AET to manage their vessel operations, as we commit to helping industry transition to net-zero future.”
