Japanese shipping company NYK has taken delivery of LNG carrier ‘Al Zuwai’r from the HHI Ulsan Shipyard of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) in South Korea.
The vessel will be deployed under a time-charter contract with QatarEnergy, one of the world’s largest LNG producers, and is the third of 12 new LNG carriers being built for QatarEnergy by a joint venture comprising NYK, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, MISC Berhad, and China LNG Shipping (Holdings). The delivery marks the first of these vessels built at HHI. Al Zuwair represents the first instance in which the NYK Group will provide ship-management services for the consortium.
Al Zuwair is powered by two WinGD X-DF 2.1 iCER fuel-efficient dual-fuel engines capable of using fuel oil and boil-off gas as fuel. Additionally, the vessel is equipped with an air lubrication system and a reliquefaction device that effectively uses surplus boil-off gas. These innovations promote efficient navigation and help reduce GHG emissions, thereby minimising environmental impact.
The 299m vessel has a cargo capacity of about 174,000 m3.
NYK Group’s Energy Business Division has centered its strengthened efforts on the LNG/LPG carrier business, which the company has positioned as a growth area.
Image: LNG carrier ‘Al Zuwair’ (source: NYK)
