Business
LNG Tanker Fleet to Triple by 2030
By Tanker World 21/8/08
Aug 26, 2008 - 1:36:20 PM

Output is forecast to rise by as much as 14% next year as projects in Qatar and Indonesia start production.

Meanwhile, worldwide demand for LNG is forecast to rise from last year's 226 billion m³ (165 million tonnes) to 320 billion m³ (234 million tonnes) by 2010, and 790 billion m³ (577 million tonnes) by 2030, respectively.

The report said the global LNG tanker fleet would have to increase from the existing 260 vessels to some 700 ships by 2030 to meet that growth in demand.

The BP Statistical Review of World Energy June 2008 said global LNG trade rose 7.3% to 165.3 million tonnes last year.

“New LNG projects are starting up in Qatar, Indonesia, Yemen, Australia and Russia and all these will necessitate an increase in LNG tankers. Demand is rising worldwide,” Abdullah Al Shuraim, chairman of Gulf Navigation Holding PJSC, has been quoted saying.

According to him, Qatar is stepping up its efforts to “take advantage of growing demand, expanding into new markets and strengthening its production, processing and shipping capacities”.

A spokesman for Qatar Gas Transport Co. Ltd (Nakilat) told Tankerworld in July that his company would be taking delivery of the world's biggest LNG tanker from Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) this month.

Slated to supply gas to the US and Europe at lower costs, the $290 million, 266,000 m³ 'Q-Max' named Mozah will carry almost 80% more cargo than conventional ships.

Ten more such tankers are due to be delivered to Qatar Gas by 2010.

Qatar, the world's largest producer of LNG, has ordered 45 LNG tankers from South Korean shipyards such as Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Ltd., including 18 from SHI.

Source: Ocnus.net 2008