Classification society American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) informed that the Ethane Crystal, the world’s first very large ethane carrier (VLEC), loaded its first shipment of ethane cargo at Enterprise Products Partner’s Morgan’s Point Terminal in Texas.

Delivered to Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) from South Korean shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) in November 2016, the Ethane Crystal is the first of six VLECs that will be delivered with ABS Class through 2017. The second vessel, the Ethane Emerald, was delivered in early December 2016.

The 57,494 dwt liquefied gas carrier, which was built for Mumbai-based Reliance Industries Limited (Reliance), is able to carry cargoes such as ethane and liquefied petroleum gasses (LPG). With an 87,000 cbm cargo carrying capacity, the vessel was the first of its kind to be constructed with a specially designed GTT Mark III membrane cargo containment system.

The ship, which features a length of 227.85 meters and a width of 36.49 meters, was classed by ABS in November.

“Loading ethane onto the world’s first VLEC represents a significant milestone for the global gas industry,” Christopher J. Wiernicki, ABS Chairman, President and CEO, said.

The Ethane Crystal operates on a trade route between North America and India, carrying ethane that will be used as feedstock for petrochemical production.