State-owned Qatargas has delivered its first LNG cargo to Japan using its Q-Max vessels, the largest class of gas carrier currently in service.
The 266,000m Mozah delivered the cargo this month to Japanese utility Chubu Electric Power's Chita terminal in central Japan's Aichi prefecture.
Qatargas' fleet of 215,000m Q-Flex and Q-Max carriers are part of its goal of increasing LNG output to 77mn t/yr by the end of this year, reinforcing Qatar's status as the world's largest LNG exporter. Q-Flex and Q-Max vessels are 50-80pc larger than conventional LNG carriers and have their own reliquefaction system to avoid cargo boil-off. Their slow speed diesel engines are also more fuel-efficient, helping lower LNG shipping costs.
Qatargas started receiving its first Q-Max carriers from South Korean shipyards in 2008, part of a $7.5bn investment in 25 new 100pc-owned ships managed by state-owned LNG shipping firm Nakilat.
Ports worldwide have been upgrading their regasification terminals to handle the new class of LNG super carriers. At 20pc longer than typical 145,000m LNG vessels they require a larger turning radius and a longer berth. Larger storage, loading and discharge facilities are also required at import terminals. Apart from Chubu Electric, other key northeast Asian LNG consumers upgrading their infrastructure to accommodate Q-Flex and Q-Max tankers have been Japan's Tohoku Electric Power at Niigata, Tokyo Electric Power at Futtsu, Tokyo Gas at Ohgishima and Osaka Gas at Senboku, along with South Korean state-owned gas utility Kogas at Tongyeong.
The 266,000m Mozah delivered the cargo this month to Japanese utility Chubu Electric Power's Chita terminal in central Japan's Aichi prefecture.
Qatargas' fleet of 215,000m Q-Flex and Q-Max carriers are part of its goal of increasing LNG output to 77mn t/yr by the end of this year, reinforcing Qatar's status as the world's largest LNG exporter. Q-Flex and Q-Max vessels are 50-80pc larger than conventional LNG carriers and have their own reliquefaction system to avoid cargo boil-off. Their slow speed diesel engines are also more fuel-efficient, helping lower LNG shipping costs.
Qatargas started receiving its first Q-Max carriers from South Korean shipyards in 2008, part of a $7.5bn investment in 25 new 100pc-owned ships managed by state-owned LNG shipping firm Nakilat.
Ports worldwide have been upgrading their regasification terminals to handle the new class of LNG super carriers. At 20pc longer than typical 145,000m LNG vessels they require a larger turning radius and a longer berth. Larger storage, loading and discharge facilities are also required at import terminals. Apart from Chubu Electric, other key northeast Asian LNG consumers upgrading their infrastructure to accommodate Q-Flex and Q-Max tankers have been Japan's Tohoku Electric Power at Niigata, Tokyo Electric Power at Futtsu, Tokyo Gas at Ohgishima and Osaka Gas at Senboku, along with South Korean state-owned gas utility Kogas at Tongyeong.
