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Finnish firm Gasum has signed an agreement with Netherland-based Anthony Veder for the long-term time charter of a new ICE Class 1A Super liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier. The 18,000-cubic-metre (cbm) vessel is to be built at German shipyard Neptun Werft and delivered during the fourth quarter of 2017.

The specific purpose of the vessel will be to bring LNG to two LNG terminals which are currently being constructed at Tahkolu-oto in Pori (due to be completed in 2016) and Röyttä in Tornio, Finland (due to be completed in 2018).

Since the Röyttä terminal in Tornio is located in the northernmost part of the Baltic Sea, the vessel will have the highest ice class notation (1A SUPER) and COLD notation to allow the vessel to safely and reliably trade in the extreme winter weather conditions that occur in that region regularly.

The design of the vessel is based on technology already applied by Anthony Veder for its LNG carriers. It will also use the LNG boil-off gas as a fuel for its main and auxiliary engines, which will make the vessel fully compliant with the most stringent emission regulations and environmentally friendly in operation.

Jan Valkier, CEO of Anthony Veder, said: "We are committed to developing cost and energy-efficient solutions for small to mid-size LNG shipping. For Anthony Veder this will be the fifth small-scale LNG carrier operating in the Northern European area. Furthermore this brings the total of LNG-fuelled vessels in our fleet to seven. But this agreement primarily and most importantly allows us to enter into cooperation with Gasum and further expand our existing strong relationship with our well respected customer Skangas."

Gasum CEO and Skangas Chairman of the Board, Johanna Lamminen, remarked: "We are very satisfied on our new agreement with Anthony Veder. The new vessel supports our strategic aim to develop the Nordic LNG infrastructure and gas market, furthering our possibility to offer a much more competitive product for end users in the maritime and industry sectors."

In addition to the newbuild 18,000-cbm LNG carrier, Skangas - a subsidiary of Gasum - has already been securing LNG transport capacity at sea since 2012 through charter contracts with Anthony Veder for two LNG carriers (Coral Energy (15,600 cbm) and Coral Anthelia (6,500 cbm)) and one LNG bunker feeder (Coralius (5,800 cbm) through the joint venture Sirius Veder Gas AB). All vessels are deployed in the North and Baltic Sea.

Image: Coral Star LNG tanker - a vessel owned by Anthony Veder.