Nakilat starts Phase 2 of Shell fleet transition, takes newbuild delivery

May 22, 2020
Nakilat has begun the second phase of its fleet management transition from Shell International Trading and Shipping Co. Ltd., with Q-Max (266,000-cu m) LNG carrier Al Mayeda being the first vessel transitioned.

Nakilat has begun the second phase of its fleet management transition from Shell International Trading and Shipping Co. Ltd., with Q-Max (266,000-cu m) LNG carrier Al Mayeda being the first vessel transitioned as part of several vessels under the phased management transition agreement. The technical management of Al Mayeda will be undertaken by Nakilat’s in-house ship management arm, Nakilat Shipping Qatar Ltd.

Wholly-owned by Nakilat and chartered by Qatargas, Al Mayeda has completed 88 voyages since it was delivered in February 2009.

Nakilat also took delivery of newbuild 173,400-cu m LNG carrier Global Energy which will be managed in-house by Nakilat. Built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, this is the first of four LNG carrier newbuilds to be delivered to Global Shipping Co. Ltd., a joint venture of Nakilat (60%) and Maran Ventures Inc. (40%). The delivery of all four newbuild LNG carriers by end-2021 will bring Nakilat’s fleet to 74 vessels, just under 12% of current global LNG fleet carrying capacity.

In 2019 Nakilat tendered for 60-100 new LNG carriers to serve its North Field Expansion project (OGJ Online, Apr. 22, 2019).