Yara International ASA has entered into shipbuilding contracts with Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) for the construction and delivery of two mid-size LPG carriers with an expected cost per vessel of US$51 million. Yara said after an evaluation of current new-build and time charter rates, it has chosen to build new vessels to cover part of its long-term transport requirement at attractive rates, meet stricter environmental regulations and maintain flexibility to serve Yara’s production system.
Yara has a base ammonia transport requirement of approximately 4 million mt/y to serve its European plants and long-term off-take agreements in Trinidad and Australia. Since time-charter contracts require a parent company guarantee of hire payments,Yara says a decision to build rather than charter vessels does not materially impact Yara’s debt capacity.
Yara is in discussions with potential partners for combined ship management and equity participation, however, Yara aims to retain majority ownership in the vessels.
Yara is currently in discussions concerning further shipbuilding contracts for handy-size vessels, which are expected to be finalized and announced in January 2014.