China LNG Shipping signed an initial deal with two shipyards for the construction of very large ethane carrier (VLEC) newbuildings.

The VLECs, if built, would be backed by contracts-of-affreightment with a US company, American Ethane, seeking to ship ethane to as-yet unbuilt petrochemical plants in China.

China LNG Shipping signed the memorandum of understanding with China State Shipbuilding Trading Company and Hudong Zhonghua Shipbuilding for the VLECs.