Latvia's LSC has taken over management of the first of Vitol's new VLGCs.
The Vitol-controlled company already manages some of the group's tankers, but has now added the 84,000-cbm Vivit Dubhe to its fleet.
The ship was handed over last month from Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI).
LSC said the vessel is the first of two in the series that it will technically manage.
The other is also 84,000 cbm, while Vitol also has two of 80,000 cbm due this year from HHIO.
The first two vessels were inked in 2017 and Vitol declared the first pair of an optional six ships in October of that year.
Shipbroking sources have since said the trader and owner has increased the order to potentially 10 VLGCs.
Reports suggested the first two are costing $75m each.
LSC is targeting a fleet expansion to 40 tankers by 2020.
This would boost the number of ships from 28 currently.
