Idan Ofer’s Eastern Pacific Shipping has diversified into the very large ethane carrier (VLEC) sector by taking over the ownership of four newbuildings.

The Singapore shipowner has signed up to own 98,000-cbm vessels ordered by China's Zhejiang Satellite Petrochemical (STL).

As part of the deal, Eastern Pacific is believed to have also secured a $1bn charter contract from acrylics producer STL.