Working Conditions Aboard the Navigator-Aurora

In a strategic move to bolster its fleet, Ocean Yield of Norway has completed the acquisition of the 2016-built ethylene gas carrier, Navigator Aurora. The purchase price was set at $69.75 million, taking into account a seller's credit from Navigator Holdings. Following the acquisition, the vessel will be bareboat chartered back to Navigator for an impressive duration of 13 years, featuring options for Navigator to repurchase the ship in the future. Currently, Navigator Aurora is engaged in a sub-charter arrangement with Borealis, facilitating the transport of ethane from the United States to Europe, with operations slated to continue until December 2026.

In a significant advancement for maritime transport, ABS, a prominent provider of classification and technical services within the marine and offshore sectors, has announced the delivery of the Navigator Aurora. This remarkable vessel, recognized as the world's largest ethane/ethylene capable liquefied gas carrier, was completed by Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai, China. The Navigator Aurora represents the first of four scheduled deliveries of Navigator Gas ethane/ethylene midsize carriers, all of which are certified under ABS Class and are set to be launched throughout 2016 and early 2017. With a remarkable cargo capacity exceeding 37,000 cbm, the Navigator Aurora is equipped with cutting-edge dual fuel engines that allow the vessel to operate on both LNG and diesel fuel. This innovative design not only enhances operational efficiency but also ensures compliance with the most stringent air emissions standards, addressing current and future environmental regulations.

Shanghai Jiangnan Shipyard (Group) Co Ltd is set to deliver the Navigator Aurora, the largest liquefied ethylene gas (LEG) carrier in the world, to Navigator Gas later this month. This monumental vessel spans 180 meters and boasts a remarkable capacity of 37,500 cubic meters, specifically designed to transport ethylene from a Pennsylvania refinery to southern Sweden. According to Tommy Hjalmas, the director of newbuilds and special projects at Navigator Gas, this significant step marks another achievement in the longstanding partnership between the shipyard and the London-based operator. Since the late 1990s, Navigator Gas has commissioned multiple LEG and liquefied natural gas carriers from Jiangnan Shipyard, as highlighted by Lin Ou, chairman and general manager of the company. Among these orders were five previous 22,000-cubic-meter LEG carriers, which held the title of the largest at their time of construction.