Adding Two Giant Gas Tankers, Pertamina International Shipping Becomes a Top-Tier LPG Carrier in Southeast Asia

Geoje, South Korea, May 9, 2024 - PT Pertamina International Shipping (PIS) reinforces its position as a 'top-tier' LPG carrier in Southeast Asia by adding two giant gas tanker ships, Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGC), namely Pertamina Gas Caspia and Pertamina Gas Dahlia.

The two new VLGCs will be optimized for transporting LPG and petrochemical commodities, such as propylene and ammonia, that are intended for trading on international routes.

With a length of around 300 meters, equivalent to twice the size of a football field, and a capacity of 91,000 m3, VLGCs Pertamina Gas Caspia, and Pertamina Gas Dahlia were produced by one of the world's largest shipyards, Hanhwa Ocean, South Korea.

The launch of VLGCs Pertamina Gas Caspia and Pertamina Gas Dahlia took place at the Hanhwa - Okpo Shipyard, South Korea. It was attended by the Secretary of the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises, Rabin Indrajad Hattari, Chargé d’Affaires Ad Interim of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Seoul, Zelda Wulan Kartika, Director of Business Planning at PIS, Eka Suhendra, and Director of Fleet at PIS, Muhammad Irfan Zainul Fikri.

Secretary of the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises, Rabin Indrajad Hattari, warmly welcomed the presence of these two latest VLGCs owned by PIS, which will strengthen PIS's role as the lifeline of energy distribution in Indonesia and elevate Indonesia's maritime industry on the global stage.

"These VLGCs are not just ships but a testament to international collaboration, technological sophistication, and unwavering commitment to supporting Indonesia's energy resilience. We believe this international collaboration can enhance PIS's capabilities, as part of Pertamina, in strengthening energy infrastructure," he said on Thursday (09/05).

He further stated that these two ships arrived at the right moment and played a significant role in delivering LPG, a more environmentally friendly energy for industries and households.

"The presence of these VLGCs also demonstrates our dedication to strengthening Indonesia's maritime industry. Alongside a more modern and updated fleet, we create new opportunities for more skilled labor and, of course, elevate Indonesia's position as a leader in the regional shipping industry," Rabin added.

CEO of PIS, Yoki Firnandi, mentioned that the addition of two VLGC tanker fleets makes PIS one of the largest VLGC owners in Southeast Asia, with a total of 7 VLGC "The increasing number of environmentally friendly VLGC fleets also demonstrates PIS's commitment to supporting energy transition and sustainable business," said PIS CEO Yoki Firnandi.

VLGCs Pertamina Gas Caspia and Pertamina Gas Dahlia are the world's largest giant gas tanker ships using the latest environmentally friendly technology. The name Caspia flower symbolizes success and memories, while the Dahlia flower symbolizes happiness and honor.

These new flagship PIS tankers will also operate directly on international routes, with their maiden voyage from Houston, USA, in early May 2024.

Currently, there are a total of 419 VLGC tankers sailing worldwide, with an average ship age of 10.08 years. With the addition of 2 new fleets, PIS now has 7 VLGC tankers with an average age of 3.42 years.

"The relatively young age of PIS's VLGC fleet is a distinct advantage, especially in terms of operational quality, compliance with the latest regulations, utilization of new technologies that can reduce emissions, and increased competitiveness," Yoki added.

PIS's existing VLGC fleet includes Pertamina Gas 1, Pertamina Gas 2, Pertamina Gas Amaryllis, Pertamina Gas Tulip, and Pertamina Gas Bergenia.

Vice President of Corporate Communication of Pertamina, Fadjar Djoko Santoso, separately stated, "The addition of these two VLGCs is evidence that Pertamina, through its Integrated Marine Logistics (IML) sub-holding, continues to aggressively and committedly enter the global market and align with other world-class companies. Not only in terms of the number of ships, but VLGCs Caspia and Dahlia are also equipped with dual fuel technology and are environmentally friendly, this technology also reflects Pertamina's commitment to conducting green business and complying with ESG implementation at Pertamina, which prioritizes Environmental, Social, and Governance," Fadjar concluded.

Pertamina Gas Caspia and Pertamina Gas Dahlia have several advantages, such as the highest cargo flexibility in their class, up to 39 cargo combinations, and full accommodation anti-piracy facilities for the safety and comfort of the ship's crew. Furthermore, VLGC Pertamina Gas Dahlia is directly managed by PIS and manned by 100% Indonesian crew.

Following Pertamina's sustainability commitment, both ships are equipped with energy-saving devices and shaft generators to improve fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, as well as using environmentally friendly Dual Fuel technology and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) to reduce acid rain pollution (NOx).

PIS ships now stands at 102 units, including Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCC), VLGCs, Suezmax, and other sized vessels. 60 of them are operating on international routes.**