---

Stolt-Nielsen Gas B.V. (SNG), a subsidiary of Stolt-Nielsen Ltd, has contracted with Keppel Singmarine for the construction of two 7,500-cubic-metre (cbm) liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, with options to purchase three additional similar ships.

The contract for the initial two ships is valued at approximately $80.0 million, including site-team costs and capitalised interest during construction. The ships are to be built at Keppel Singmarine's shipyard in Nantong, China, with deliveries scheduled in the second and third quarter of 2019 respectively.

The vessels will be capable of operating on either distillate fuel or LNG, with a class notation and technical capability for ship-to-ship (STS) bunkering, thus significantly enhancing their versatility.

Stolt-Nielsen Gas has established a wholly owned subsidiary, Avenir LNG Ltd, to focus mainly on the development of small-scale LNG supply chains serving so-called 'stranded demand', where off-the-grid customers lack access to natural gas.

SNG's current projects include plans to build and operate an LNG terminal and distribution facility in the port of Oristano, Sardinia, and a venture to provide LNG to areas of Scotland not served by the existing natural-gas grid. The newbuildings would be deployed, at least in part, in the supply chains serving these projects.

SNG says it has negotiated a heads of agreement with an oil major with the intention to charter the first ship for trading in the Mediterranean. The second ship is expected to trade in northern Europe.