Tohoku Electric Power will receive the first liquefied natural gas cargo transported on a Q-Flex tanker, the world's biggest class, in late December as producers seek to cut costs and transport larger volumes.
Big is beautiful: Next year, Korean shipbuilders will start delivering a new, larger class vessel, known as Q-Max, capable of carrying 266,000 cubic metres
The cargo will arrive at Higashi Niigata terminal in northern Japan from Qatar, Tohoku's spokesman Kotaro Kudo said on Monday. The first Q-Flex tanker will be loaded in early-December and sail to Japan, Rachele Sheard, head of communications & planning, public relations, Qatargas Operating Co said. The details of the shipment will be released on Dec 3, Ms Sheard said yesterday.
Qatar, the world's biggest LNG producer, has ordered 45 LNG tankers from South Korean shipyards capable of carrying more than 200,000 cubic metres each. Qatar and partners Exxon Mobil Corp, Royal Dutch Shell Plc and ConocoPhillips are building the world's biggest LNG production lines to lower output costs.
'Large LNG tankers are economical for longer-haul voyages such as to the US,' Rob Tustin, technical manager at Lloyd's Register Asia, which inspects and certifies ships, said. 'They are the next evolution in LNG tanker sizes.' Samsung Heavy Industries, Hyundai Heavy Industries and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering have led construction of larger-sized LNG carriers.
By January 2008, the Korean shipbuilders are scheduled to deliver eight Q-Flex tankers capable of carrying a maximum 216,000 cubic metres each, Russell Barling, a spokesman for Lloyd's Register, said. Each Q-Flex cargo is enough to power South Korean households for two days.
In 2008, the Korean shipbuilders will start delivering a new, larger class vessel, known as Q-Max, capable of carrying 266,000 cubic metres. The vessels will mainly be deployed on routes to the US and UK.
Samsung Heavy Industries has delivered one Q-Flex tanker to Qatar, executive vice-president CH Park said on Wednesday. 'Our tankers are most efficient,' he said.
Qatargas spokeswoman Ms Sheard declined to give details on how the eight tankers that are due to be delivered by January will be deployed, while the company completes production facilities that will supply LNG to the new ships.
Japan imported 58 million tons of LNG last year, according to the Ministry of Finance. Qatar supplied 6.3 million tons, or 11 per cent of the total.
Big is beautiful: Next year, Korean shipbuilders will start delivering a new, larger class vessel, known as Q-Max, capable of carrying 266,000 cubic metres
The cargo will arrive at Higashi Niigata terminal in northern Japan from Qatar, Tohoku's spokesman Kotaro Kudo said on Monday. The first Q-Flex tanker will be loaded in early-December and sail to Japan, Rachele Sheard, head of communications & planning, public relations, Qatargas Operating Co said. The details of the shipment will be released on Dec 3, Ms Sheard said yesterday.
Qatar, the world's biggest LNG producer, has ordered 45 LNG tankers from South Korean shipyards capable of carrying more than 200,000 cubic metres each. Qatar and partners Exxon Mobil Corp, Royal Dutch Shell Plc and ConocoPhillips are building the world's biggest LNG production lines to lower output costs.
'Large LNG tankers are economical for longer-haul voyages such as to the US,' Rob Tustin, technical manager at Lloyd's Register Asia, which inspects and certifies ships, said. 'They are the next evolution in LNG tanker sizes.' Samsung Heavy Industries, Hyundai Heavy Industries and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering have led construction of larger-sized LNG carriers.
By January 2008, the Korean shipbuilders are scheduled to deliver eight Q-Flex tankers capable of carrying a maximum 216,000 cubic metres each, Russell Barling, a spokesman for Lloyd's Register, said. Each Q-Flex cargo is enough to power South Korean households for two days.
In 2008, the Korean shipbuilders will start delivering a new, larger class vessel, known as Q-Max, capable of carrying 266,000 cubic metres. The vessels will mainly be deployed on routes to the US and UK.
Samsung Heavy Industries has delivered one Q-Flex tanker to Qatar, executive vice-president CH Park said on Wednesday. 'Our tankers are most efficient,' he said.
Qatargas spokeswoman Ms Sheard declined to give details on how the eight tankers that are due to be delivered by January will be deployed, while the company completes production facilities that will supply LNG to the new ships.
Japan imported 58 million tons of LNG last year, according to the Ministry of Finance. Qatar supplied 6.3 million tons, or 11 per cent of the total.