Exmar charters LNG regasification vessel

July 6, 2005
Exmar NV confirmed a long-term charter with LNG shipper and marketer Excelerate Energy LP for another LNG regasification vessel.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, July 6 -- Exmar NV, Belgium, confirmed a long-term charter with LNG shipper and marketer Excelerate Energy LP, The Woodlands, Tex., for another LNG regasification vessel (LNGRV).

Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. Ltd. will build the 150,900-cu-m vessel, the Explorer, which will be ready for delivery in first quarter 2008.

The Explorer, to be owned by Exmar 80% and Excelerate Energy 20%, will have a membrane containment system and incorporate Excelerate's Energy Bridge technology allowing a standard LNG vessel to be customized to convert LNG to vapor aboard ship for transfer to subsea pipelines.

The ship will deliver regasified LNG to the Gulf Gateway deepwater port 116 miles off Louisiana and to support Excelerate's recent application to build NorthEast Gateway—a deepwater port in Massachusetts Bay near Boston.

With the new vessel order, the Energy Bridge operation will have four LNGRV's.