Eastern Pacific Shipping Pte. Ltd. (EPS) has announced its first-ever direct order of LNG carrier new buildings, commissioning two vessels at Jiangnan Shipyard in China for delivery in 2028. This landmark move follows the recent merger of CoolCo with EPS Ventures, marking a major milestone in the company's expansion of its gas platform. According to EPS CEO Cyril Ducau, making CoolCo a private subsidiary will provide greater strategic flexibility. Notably, EPS has chosen a Chinese yard at a time when most LNG carrier orders have gone to Korean shipyards, highlighting a distinctive approach. The industry saw a surge in LNG carrier orders at the end of 2025, tightening yard slots for 2028. With Oystein Kalleklev leading EPS's 63-ship gas business, the company is positioning itself for long-term growth in LNG as a transition fuel.