On May 21, under clear and pleasant skies by the Yangtze River, Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co., Ltd. (CIMC SOE) held a grand naming ceremony for two 24,000 cbm LEG carriers, hull numbers S1107 and S1108.

The ceremony was attended by Ms. Katie Fearn-Mitchell, sponsor of S1107; Ms. Kristina Chapple, sponsor of S1108; Mr. Philip Harwood, Fleet Director of Petredec; Mr. James Parrett, Head of Shipping; Mr. Darwin Rajendran, Fleet Manager; Mr. Ranjan Varghese, Project Manager; Mr. Matt Neale, Director of Clarksons; Mr. Bill Chen, Vice General Manager of BV China; Mr. Wang Jianding, Executive Deputy General Manager of CIMC SOE; Ms. Shang Jinyan, Deputy General Manager; Mr. Shen Lintao, Deputy General Manager of the Shipbuilding Division, along with other leaders and guests who gathered together to witness this important moment.

The naming ceremony began at the quay with a brief but solemn session. Ms. Kristina Chapple, sponsor of S1108, took the stage to name the vessel “Eleanor” and offered her blessing: “I name this ship ‘Eleanor’. Wishing her fair winds, safe voyages, and all the best to those who sail on her.” The champagne cord was cut, the vessel’s name was unveiled, and guests took a group photo before proceeding by car to the dry dock for the main ceremony.

Upon arrival at the dry dock, the ceremony continued. Mr. Shen Lintao, Deputy General Manager of the Shipbuilding Division of CIMC SOE, delivered a welcome speech. He extended a warm welcome and sincere thanks to the Petredec team, the two sponsors, and BV Classification Society. Mr. Shen noted that the smooth progress of the two vessels would not have been possible without the deep trust and close collaboration of Petredec. He also thanked the two sponsors for their blessings, BV Classification Society for its professional and rigorous technical certification and standard control throughout the construction process, and all the staff who worked hard on the project.

Mr. Philip Harwood, Fleet Director of Petredec, spoke highly of CIMC SOE’s professional capability and collaborative spirit. He pointed out that this is the first time Petredec has cooperated with SOE on newbuilding projects, but the superb craftsmanship, the dedication of the management team and workers, and their allout efforts have convinced him that this is just the beginning of a long and successful partnership. He also shared the story behind the vessel names. Petredec’s vessels are traditionally named after famous racehorses, and S1107 and S1108 continue that tradition. He expressed his hope that the two new ships, true to the meaning of their names, will combine excellent speed with lasting endurance, performing outstandingly in future operations.

Mr. Bill Chen, Vice General Manager of BV China, then delivered a speech. He said that BV is honored to provide classification services for this series of highend LEG carriers, marking another important milestone in the long and successful cooperation between BV and CIMC SOE. Mr. Chen wished S1107 and S1108 fair winds and following seas in all their future voyages, delivering efficient and safe service for global energy transportation. BV Classification Society will continue to uphold rigorous professional standards, providing fullsupport protection for the vessels’ navigation safety, and looks forward to continued cooperation among the three parties on more projects in the future.

The lion eyedotting ceremony then brought the atmosphere to a climax. Mr. Philip Harwood, Mr. James Parrett, Mr. Wang Jianding, and Mr. Shen Lintao jointly dotted the eyes of the lion, praying for safe voyages. Accompanied by dynamic drumbeats, a lively lion dance performance filled the ceremony with auspicious energy.

In the most eagerly anticipated moment, Ms. Katie FearnMitchell, sponsor of S1107, officially named the vessel “Emblematic” and offered the same heartfelt blessing. She broke the champagne cord and unveiled the vessel’s name. Colorful smoke and cannon salutes filled the air, and applause thundered through the venue. All guests then gathered on stage for a group photo and later boarded the vessels for a tour.

The two sister vessels named this time are independently designed and developed by CIMC SOE, demonstrating cuttingedge technology in the new generation of ethylene carriers. They are classed by BV. The vessels feature Ctype bilobe tank cargo containment systems, with stringent requirements for cargo containment, cargo handling, and overall safety performance. By optimizing hull lines and layout design, the vessels have increased effective cargo capacity while achieving a design speed of 16 knots, balancing operational efficiency and transport capability.

Looking ahead, CIMC SOE will take this naming ceremony as a new starting point. The company will continue to focus on R&D and manufacturing of cleanenergy vessels, uphold craftsmanship quality, refine core technologies, and continuously improve its construction system. With quality products and professional services, CIMC SOE will reciprocate the trust of its partners, deepen strategic cooperation with shipowners at home and abroad, and sail forward together into the blue ocean.