On June 10, Jiangnan Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, formally named and delivered the Ivy Cove, the first 93,000 cbm Very Large Ammonia Carrier (VLAC) built for Eastern Pacific Shipping. The vessel will subsequently serve a charter with Trafigura.

The vessel is an independently developed next-generation maritime giant by Jiangnan Shipbuilding, marking the first 93,000 cbm VLAC delivered by China and the world's first vessel of this type.

From the moment it secured the world's first order for a 93,000 cbm VLAC, Jiangnan Shipbuilding undertook a deep redesign based on its 93,000 cbm Very Large Gas Carrier platform, launching the proprietary "PANDA 93A" brand.

According to Jiangnan Shipbuilding, the "PANDA 93A" overcomes the challenges of optimising resistance and wake field for a medium-to-high-speed, large-block-coefficient hull form, performing in a balanced and assured manner across laden, ballast, and various cargo density conditions. For the first time, the R&D team jointly applied patented wave-damping seakeeping technology together with energy-saving devices before and after the propeller, striking an optimal balance between speed and maximised cargo capacity, while also ensuring channel accessibility and terminal handling compatibility.

The vessel type offers exceptional cargo flexibility—it can carry full loads of ammonia, as well as full loads of propane, butane, and various other liquefied petroleum gases. Additionally, given the limited parcel sizes typical of ammonia cargoes, the vessel is capable of carrying two segregated grades of liquefied gas simultaneously.

Furthermore, the Ivy Cove is equipped with LPG dual-fuel main engines and shaft generators, enabling a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of approximately 20% and sulphur oxide emissions of roughly 99%, meeting the requirements of EEDI Phase 3.