JAPANESE CONSORTIUM SIGNS LNG CHARTER WITH QATAR PETROLEUM AFFILIATE
A consortium comprising Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Exmar and Qatar Shipping has signed a second 25-year long-term charter agreement for the operation of a new 145,000-cubic meter liquefied natural gas carrier to transport LNG.
The consortium has simultaneously signed the shipbuilding contract for the construction of the ship with Samsung Heavy Industries.
The consortium will ship LNG for RasGas II, a company 70-percent-owned by Qatar Petroleum and 30-percent-owned by ExxonMobil.
The new ship, featuring a membrane cargo containment system, is scheduled for delivery in May 2005. It will be employed in the exportation of LNG from Ras Laffan, Qatar to either North America or Europe.
NYK will be appointed as the shipmanager of the ship.
