8月31日，世界上第一艘IMO B型舱VLEC（超大型乙烷运输船，船号H2624）在江南造船的3号船坞下水。该型船专为液化乙烷的长途运输而设计，并符合休斯顿航道主尺度包络线限制条件下的最大载货容积。她还能够运载除乙烷以外的其他液化气体货物，如液化石油气、乙烯等，其围护系统最低承载温度可低至零下104度。
该型船配备4个江南造船自主开发的“BrilliancE”B型液货舱和2个背载式甲板罐，最大舱容可达99000立方米。“BrilliancE”B型液货舱的创新设计是江南造船和美国船级社（ABS）设计工程师在概念设计阶段深入研讨和合作研发的产物，这种新颖的围护系统在2019年9月获得ABS原则认可（AIP），随后ABS进一步参与了该型船的设计认可和建造现场检验。
江南造船一直以来都有给新船型赋予一个昵称的传统。虽然这种中型液化气运输船仍然属于江南的“Panda（熊猫）”船型系列，但江南造船特意赋予该型船一个专属昵称“Bluebonnet（矢车菊）”，Bluebonnet为美国德克萨斯州的州花，同时也寓意了乙烷贸易的目的地。
该船的船名“PACIFIC INEOS BELSTAFF” 已经在下水前涂装在船体的外板上，实际上已经表达了交付后潜在的运输租约。黑色舷侧外板和暗红色的水下船体以及水线带上的金色条纹，很像一个多世纪前的维多利亚风格的涂装，这种新古典主义的涂装方案赋予了她庄严、从容大方的外观。
The world's first IMO type B VLEC (Very Large Ethane Carrier, H2624) was launched last day of August from Jiangnan's No.3 dock. This vessel is dedicatedly designed for long-haul transportation of ethane, and fits for Dimension Envelope of Houston Ship Channel with maximum capacity. She is also capable to carry liquefied gas cargoes other than ethane, such as LPG, ethylene and so on, down to -104 degrees.
Jiangnan self-developed 4 "BrilliancE" type B tanks in the cargo holds plus 2 piggybacked deck tanks provide cargo capacity up to 99,000 cubic meters. The Jiangnan's innovative design was the product of deep engagement between engineers at Jiangnan and American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) during the conceptual stage, which resulted in ABS granting Approval in Principle in September of 2019, and ABS further subsequentially involved design approval and construction supervision.
As a tradition, Jiangnan always give a nick name to a newly developed ship. Although such medium size gas carrier is still belonging to Jiangnan's Panda series, but Jiangnan intentionally assigned a unique designation of "Bluebonnet", a state flower of Texas, which implied geographic destination of ethane trade.
The ship's name of "PACIFIC INEOS BELSTAFF" painted on shell has exactly shown potential charter after delivery. Black side shell and dull red boot-top with golden strip in between is much likes Victorian Style in more than one century ago. A neo-classical coating scheme givesher a majestic look.
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策划/ 蔡勤宏 余俊伟 孙新明
文/ 胡可一
编辑/ 陈蕾婷
悬规植矩 器惟求新
江南使命
强盛民族工业 铸造海上长城
江南精神
