Papenburg, 15. January 2007 - Magne Morken, Managing Director of the Norwegian shipping company Solvang ASA, pushed the button of the computer-controlled plasma torch for the steel construction of the third gas tanker out of a series of four. Cutting of the first steel plate marks the start of the production process of the new gas tanker.

The LEG/LPG tankers will have a length overall of 154.9 m, a breadth of 22.70 m and a cargo capacity of 17,000 m3. They will be able to operate at a speed of 17 knots. Fully loaded with ethylene cooled down to minus 104°C, the ships will have a draught of 8.10 m. In addition to ethylene, the tankers will also be able to carry vinyl chloride monomer, ammonia and propylene oxide, cooled down to minus 48° C.

Deliveries of these special vessels, yard numbers S. 653, S. 654, S. 681 and S. 682, are scheduled for the 3rd and 4th quarter of 2007 and the 3rd and 4th quarter of 2008. Our sister company NEPTUN WERFT in Rostock will be mainly involved both with the tank construction and the outfitting of the ships.

With market share of 37 %, MEYER WERFT counts among the world's leaders in the construction of LEG tankers. Hence these four newbuildings, to be classified by DNV, are a continuation of the two 12,500 m3 sized gas tankers "Clipper Harald" and "Clipper Viking" the shipyard already built for Solvang.