Pacific Gas and Wanhua Chemical officially named a 100,000-cbm very large ethane carrier (VLEC) newbuilding at Jiangnan Shipyard on August 25. The vessel, named Pacific Merak, is the second in a series of seven VLECs ordered under a joint project between the two domestic companies, signaling the start of the batch delivery phase for the fleet.

The naming follows the delivery of the inaugural vessel, Pacific Dubhe. Pacific Gas highlighted the latest addition as another key milestone in the company’s push to promote localized shipbuilding and regional freight transport. Once commissioned, the vessel will be deployed to provide a stable supply of ethane feedstock for Wanhua Chemical. This deployment aligns deep-sea shipping expertise with downstream chemical raw material demand, maximizing synergies between shipping and manufacturing while adding vital maritime capacity to secure regional energy and industrial supply chains.

Looking ahead, Pacific Gas plans to leverage its expertise in ocean-going gas transport to advance fleet specialization, smart operations, and decarbonization. The company will continue to deepen supply chain collaboration to support the steady operation of China’s petrochemical sector while contributing to national energy security and maritime decarbonization efforts.