EXMAR committed its resources to expanding its presence in the LPG midsize market where it already had over three decades of experience. In July 2011 it agreed a swap with BW Gas of two of its Very Large Gas Carriers FLANDERS LIBERTY and FLANDERS LOYALTY with their entire midsize fleet. This transaction resulted in the acquisition of four vessels, renamed BASTOGNE (35,000m3, built 2002), TEMSE (35,000m3, built 1994), TIELRODE (35,000m3, built 1993) and the existing BW SOMBEKE (38,000m3, built 2006). The deal included the honouring of existing contracts these vessels had for trading in the North Sea, establishing EXMAR as a major force in the North West European continent market.
EXMAR also signed an agreement in March 2012 with Hyundai Heavy Industries to build four state-of-the-art midsize LPG vessels of 38,000m3 capacity with an option for an additional four ships. The design was to be based on unique energy-saving innovations jointly developed with EXMAR’s technical R&D division.