LNG vessels

The world's largest LNG vessel, Mozah, recently made its maiden visit to the South Hook LNG Terminal in Milford Haven, UK, heralding a new era in the history of liquefied natural gas (LNG) transportation. The Q-Max ship measures 345 metres long, is nearly 54 m wide and 34.7 m high. She has a capacity to carry 266 000 m3 of LNG. The Mozah has 80% more capacity than conventional LNG carriers with about 40% lower energy requirements, due to the economies of scale and the efficiency of the engines, and was built and designed to deliver cargoes to distant markets from Qatar. GDF Suez has taken delivery of 2 new LNG carrier ships. The company will use the new vessels to ship gas from the Yemen LNG project within the framework of which GDF Suez is to purchase 2.55 million tonnes of LNG/year. Built in South Korea, the BW GDF Suez Brussels and the BW GDF Suez Paris have a capacity of 162¡¡400 m3 and are the largest ships in the company¡¯s fleet of 15 vessels. Qatargas has taken delivery of Al Khattiya, another mega-ship to be used to transport LNG produced by Qatar Liquefied Gas Company Ltd. (QG4) to markets primarily in North America. The mega-carrier has a capacity of 210¡¡000 m3 and also has 80% more capacity than conventional LNG carriers with about 40% lower energy requirements. www.gasworld.com