DNV has won the lion’s share of Qatar’s second batch of LNG ship orders. Seven of twelve megacarriers ordered for the Ras Gas III project will be built in Korea to DNV class.

Qatar has prompted huge newbuilding orders in the LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) trade to cope with its forthcoming production volumes. Eight megacarriers (over 200,000 m3) were ordered last year, four of which are to DNV class. Another order for twelve ships has now been placed and seven of these will be classed by DNV.

DNV’s business director for tankers, Jan Koren, comments, “All seven vessels will be built in Korea. NYK in Japan ordered three 216,000 m3 ships from Hyundai (HHI) for delivery starting in April 2008. Also, Teekay has ordered four 217,000 m3 ships from Samsung for delivery during the period April–June 2008. These are the largest LNG carriers on order to date.”

All the megacarriers ordered so far will be built with twin diesel engine installations and reliquefaction plants to handle the boil-off from the cargo. The GTT Mark III cargo containment design will be applied for all vessels.
The vessels are part of Qatar’s planned LNG shipbuilding program which ultimately could comprise over 60 LNG carriers. Many of these will deliver Qatar LNG to the UK and US, and also Europe and Asia.
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Date: 2005-10-12