The fourth LNG carrier for the ExxonMobil Corp.-led PNG-LNG project is expected to join the fleet next month following its official naming ceremony this week.
The vessel, christened Kumul, is the second purpose-built carrier for the development constructed at the Hydong-Zhonghua shipbuilding yard in Shanghai, China.
It has capacity to transport 172,000 cu m of LNG. Along with its sister ship Papua, they are the largest LNG ships to be built in China.
Kumul will be operated by Mitsui OSK Lines and is expected to arrive in PNG in late May. It will join the other three vessels dedicated to PNG-LNG and transporting cargos to customers in Asia: Papua, Spirit of Hela, and Gigira Laitebo.
PNG-LNG is an integrated development including gas production and processing facilities, onshore and offshore pipelines, and liquefaction plant.
Interest holders are operator ExxonMobil, Oil Search Ltd., Kumul Petroleum Holdings Ltd., Santos Ltd., JX Nippon Oil and Gas Exploration Ltd., Mineral Resources Development Co. Ltd., and Petromin PNG Holdings Ltd.