Third LNG carrier for ExxonMobil delivered

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has announced that the BEIDOU STAR LNG carrier has been successfully delivered from Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co. Ltd. It is the third vessel from a line of four newbuild LNG carriers, which will operate on long-term charters and provide transportation services for ExxonMobil’s LNG interests in both Australia and Papua New Guinea.

The BEIDOU STAR is 290 m long, has a breadth of 46.95 m, and has a cargo capacity of 171 800 m³.

The project is the first instance of a foreign shipping company making use of a Chinese shipyard, and the first instance of co-ownership of LNG carriers between China Shipping (Group) Co. and PetroChina.

Since January 2011, MOL has had technical experts at the shipyard to ensure quality control and safety standards were being met.

The first vessel of the series was delivered in January 2015. The relationship that has developed between MOL and its Chinese partners led to agreements to construct an additional six LNG carriers for China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (SINOPEC). Along with the vessels for ExxonMobil, this will lead to a total of 10 newbuild LNG carriers by 2017.

Edited from press release by David Rowlands

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/lng-shipping/03122015/third-lng-carrier-for-exxonmobil-delivered-1712/