Mitsui O.S.K Lines (MOL) reports that it has taken delivery of the LNG carrier Papua, built by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, on January 30th.
The Papua is the first out of a total of four vessels that are to be constructed by Hudong in order to provide LNG transportation for the PNG LNG project in Papua, New Guinea as well as for the Gordon LNG project in Australia, MOL commented via a statement.
The Papua will be operated by the MOL under the stipulations of a long-term charter contract for the PNG LNG project that is managed by ExxonMobil.
The project is aimed at providing the necessary means for the transportation of LNG for China’s energy company, China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation. The vessel in question is the object of a co-ownership between a Chinese ship-owner, China Shipping (Group) Company and SINOPEC.
In a co-op effort with its Chinese partners, MOL began an initiative to manufacture six additional new LNG carrier vessels to suit SINOPEC’s needs. These carriers are being built now at Hudong. A total of 10 ships, including the four designated for the purposes of the PNG LNG and Gorgon projects, are scheduled for completion by 2017.
Source & Image: MOL