The first custom-built LNG carrier for the Papua New Guinea LNG project has docked at the Port Moresby LNG plant.
The vessel, MV Papua, has the capacity to hold 172,000 cu m of LNG has started loading its maiden cargo bound for Sinopoc in China. The vessel will be used to supply the project’s customers in Asia.
Papua was built in Shanghai by Hudong-Zhongua Ship Building company and is said to be the largest carrier ever built in the country.
The vessel is owned by a joint venture of Aquarius LNG Shipping Ltd., Mitsui OSK Lines, China Shipping Group, and Sinopec. It is operated by Mitsui on behalf of the Papua New Guinea LNG joint venture participants at the direction of ExxonMobil Corp.
The project will have four dedicated carriers. Three of them—The Spirit of Helga, Gigira Laitebo, and now Papua—are in operation. The fourth vessel is still under construction.
