An orders drought for very large gas carriers (VLGCs) that lasted more than a year has ended with up to five newbuildings booked at yards in China and Japan.

Singapore’s Petredec Holdings has ordered two 84,000-cbm VLGCs, plus two options, from ­Jiangnan Shipyard, while Kum­iai Navigation has signed up for a 82,200-cbm ship at Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI).

Kumiai’s newbuilding will be built to the International Mari­time Organization’s old Tier II standards but it will be equipped with an exhaust gas scrubber, ready for the upcoming low-­sulphur emissions regulations in 2020.