Luxembourg, 21/05/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Investment Bank (EIB) has granted a loan of EUR 16.5 million to Banca delle Marche, which will onlend it to Navigazione Montanari SpA (NM) in order to finance the acquisition of a new vessel for ethylene transport. The loan comes further to a decision by the EIB board to grant a loan amounting to a maximum of EUR 33 million for the purchase of two vessels, to be used on routes between Member State ports within the EU, or which will navigate between these ports and other ports located in third countries. The project should allow regional fluctuations in ethylene production to be smoothed out and give greater supply flexibility, which will help to improve the competitiveness of the European petrochemical industry. The carriers will be ultra-modern liquid natural gas carriers conform to the latest Community and international regulations.