NYK Line Orders New LNG Carriers to Ship U.S. LNG Exports

Cameron LNG, image (c) Cameron LNG

Japan’s Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) has followed up with an order for two new liquified natural gas carriers that will be used to transport U.S.-produced natural gas from the the Cameron LNG export facility beginning in 2018.

NYK Line ordered the ships after sealing time-charter agreements with Singapore-based Diamond Gas International. The vessels will be constructed by MI LNG Company Limited, a joint venture between Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Imabari Shipbuilding Co. at MHI’s Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works yard in Japan. Delivery of the vessels is scheduled for 2018.

The new carriers will be based on the new Moss type Sayaringo-series design, featuring four apple-shaped tanks for greater carrying capacity, an integrated tank cover and a hull structure that reduces ship weight and air resistance. The vessels will also be equipped with a hybrid “STaGE” propulsion system that combines a steam turbine and dual fuel engines that can be fired by gas, cutting fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

Cameron LNG, LLC is currently constructing the new export facility at its existing LNG terminal near Hackberry, Louisiana. The company has already obtained U.S. approval to export up to 1.7 billion cubic feet per day (12 million tons per year) of domestically produced LNG to non-Free Trade Agreement countries in Europe and Asia. It has also requested federal approval to increase the number of LNG liquefaction trains from three to five and to add storage, which would increase export capacity at the terminal. Commercial operations are expected begin in early to late 2018.

Cameron LNG Holdings, LLC is a joint venture between Sempra Energy, GDF SUEZ S.A., Mitsui & Co., Ltd. and Japan LNG Investment, LLC, a joint venture formed by affiliates of Mitsubishi Corporation and NYK Line.

The 2 vessel-order follows an earlier contract MHI signed with Mitsui & Co in January calling for the construction of two new LNG carriers, which will also be used to transport gas from the Cameron LLC facility.

NYK Line Vessel Characteristics:

• Cargo tank capacity: about 165,000 cubic meters
• Gross tonnage: about 146,200 tonsLength overall: about 293.5 meters
• Breadth: 48.94 meters
• Main engine: STaGE (Steam Turbine and Gas Engines)
• Speed: 19.5 knots
• Shipbuilder: Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.
• Delivery: 2018 (scheduled)

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