Lng Fleet

RasGas Adds Seven New Ships to LNG Fleet

RasGas Company Limited (RasGas), the Qatar based premium LNG exporter, continues to grow its fleet to meet global demand. RasGas, Teekay Nakilat and J5 name seven Q-Flex LNG carriers that will enter long-term RasGas charters in ceremonies at both the Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) and Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) shipyards in South Korea. These ships bring the RasGas LNG fleet to a total 20 ships ranging from 138,000 cu.m through to 217,000 cu.m. On the February 20, in the first of two naming ceremonies, the first four Q-Flex ships with a cargo carrying capacity of 217,000 m3, approximately 50 per cent larger than conventional ships and the largest ships currently chartered by RasGas were formally named by VIP sponsors. Built by SHI at the Goje Island shipyard, the ships are owned by Teekay Nakilat (III Corporation) and will deliver LNG in the main to the Far East and US markets. At the ceremony the vessels were named by representatives from RasGas, ExxonMobil, and Distrigas, one of RasGas' European customers. Hamad Rashid Al Mohannadi, RasGas Managing Director (CEO) was the proud sponsor of the 'Al Kharsaah'. Whilst the 'Al Huwaila' and 'Al Shamal' were named by Mrs. Sherry Swiger, wife of Mr. Andrew Swiger, President ExxonMobil Gas and Power Marketing Company and Mrs. Ruth Billings, wife of Mr. Ron Billings, Vice President Global LNG, ExxonMobil Gas and Power Marketing Company respectively

Shell to Manage Nakilat’s LNG Fleet

Qatar Gas Transport Company Ltd (Nakilat) has appointed Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited (Shell) to manage its fleet of at least 27 new LNG carriers in a 25-year deal. Under this arrangement it is expected that Operational Management will be transferred to Nakilat within 12 years. The agreement will involve Shell providing a range of shipping services to Nakilat including ship management as well as the transfer of know how and expertise to allow Nakilat to

SUEZ LNG implements U.S. Citizen Crewing Agreement

SUEZ LNG, Massachusetts Maritime Academy (Academy), and the International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots (MM&P) announced an agreement to recruit, train, and supply U.S citizen mariners for service on the LNG tankers owned or chartered by SUEZ LNG. SUEZ LNG, in compliance with the deepwater port license agreement signed with Maritime Administrator, Sean T. Connaughton, will collaborate with both the Academy and the MM&P Union to train and employ U.S

LNG Training Agreement To Be Signed

Maritime Administrator Sean T. Connaughton, presidents of the major seafaring unions, and the heads of major maritime academies will sign an agreement on June 5 to implement a set of universal standards in training crews for tankers carrying Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). The standards were developed by an industry working group facilitated by the Maritime Administration. The agreement will help expand the pool of U.S

LNG Market Poised for Massive Growth

There has been plenty of talk recently about the birth of a spot and short-term charter market for lng carriers. Indeed some LNGoperators have formed strategic alliances to prepare for these potentially new trades. However, R.S.Platou Shipbrokers of Norway believes that the volume of LNGtonnage currently on order could yet force some owners to work short-term deals by the end of this decade whether they like it or not.

LNG-FSRU Vessel: BW Place Samsung Contract

BW Maritime inks contract with Samsung Heavy Industries for BW’s first Liquefied Natural Gas Floating Storage Regasification Unit (LNG-FSRU). Expected to be delivered in 2015, it will be the latest addition to BW's fleet of 16 LNG carriers, building on and increasing its existing LNG expertise.  This vessel and floating terminal will be able to receive and convert LNG into its gaseous form for offloading via pipelines, to gas facilities on-shore.

LR Report: 75 New LNG Ships for the U.S.

Lloyd's Register (LR) released the results of its extensive research into the LNG market. Talking at the LNG conference The role of LNG in North American and Caribbean gas supply in Washington D.C., LR said that between 27 and 75 new LNG ships will be needed to meet the demand for LNG over the next decade in the US market alone. Many factors have been considered by LR in its forecast of the LNG market, including consideration of replacement of ageing existing ships

Keppel secures contract for Qatargas LNG carriers

Keppel Shipyard Limited (Keppel Shipyard) has entered an Alliance Service Agreement for the drydocking of a fleet of Moss Rosenburg (MOSS) type of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) carriers chartered by Qatar Liquefied Gas Company Ltd (Qatargas). The five-year agreement was signed with MO LNG Transport Co., Ltd (MOL), Nippon Yusen Kaisha Ltd (NYK) and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd (K-Line). The vessels under the fleet agreement are Al Zubarah, Al Khor, Al Rayyan, Al Wajbah, Broog, Zekreet

LNG Tanker Joins RasGas Fleet

At a ceremony in South Korea, RasGas Company Ltd named another long term charter LNG tanker into their LNG cargo fleet. RasGas celebrated the launch of the ship at a ceremony in South Korea hosted by the shipbuilders, Samsung Hyundai Industries (SHI) at their Goje Island shipyard. Barbara Wolahan, wife of former RasGas Managing Director, Jerry Wolahan, was the sponsor of the ship. At the ceremony, Mrs Wolahan named the ship Ejnan after an island off the west coast of Qatar.

Qatar Drydock has 7 LNG Carriers Under Repair

In Qatar, Nakilat-Keppel Offshore & Marine (N-KOM) shipyard has 7 ocean-going LNG carriers in its drydock for  repairs, overhauls As part of the Erhama Bin Jaber Al Jalahma Shipyard, N-KOM has successfully completed marine, offshore and onshore projects for both local and international clients, with LNG repairs making up almost half of these projects reports LNG World News. The seven LNG carriers (Al Jasra, Al Bidda, Al Wajbah, Dukhan, Al Gharrafa