Last six QC-Maxes chartered out

A long-term timecharter contract (TCP) was signed by Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) and QatarEnergy y for six QC-Max, 271,000 cu m LNGCs.

The six vessels mark the last batch of the 128 LNGCs in QatarEnergy’s huge shipbuilding programme, which includes 104 conventional and 24 QC-Max LNGCs.

They will be built by China’s Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) and will be delivered between 2028 and 2031.

The LNGCs will be jointly owned by MOL and COSCO Shipping LNG Investment (Shanghai) (CSLNG).

MOL, as one of the world's largest owners of LNGCs, since the mid-1990s, has expanded and strengthened the relationship with QatarEnergy through its global LNG transportation, which has now expanded to 13 vessels earmarked for Qatar’s giant North Field expansion project.

QC-Maxes are fitted with latest technology enabling excellent environmental performance, MOL said.

The TCPs were signed during a ceremony held at QatarEnergy’s headquarters in Doha on 12th December.

HE, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs, and President and CEO of QatarEnergy, said: “This is the last batch of long-term shipowner contracts in our 128-vessel strong historic shipbuilding programme that will cater for QatarEnergy’s future LNG fleet requirements for our LNG expansion projects, as well as the replacement requirements of some of our existing fleet.

“We are proud to have forged very important partnerships and business relations with many companies and joint ventures, including today’s new partnership with MOL and COSCO Shipping,” he said.

In 2022, the MOL/CSLNG joint venture had entered into long-term TCP agreements with QatarEnergy for seven conventional LNGCs.

Last week, QatarEnergy also took delivery of the 174,000 cu m LNGC ‘Hlaitan’ from Hudong-Zhonghua.

‘Hlaitan’ was the third vessel of the Chinese shipbuilder’s developed series and was also the seventh LNGC delivered by the shipbuilding company this year, setting a new annual delivery record.

Classed by both the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and the China Classification Society (CCS), she features the latest generation of twin-skeg hull design and is equipped with multiple low-carbon and digital technologies and systems.

This year, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding has won 36 QatarEnergy orders for LNGCs, which includes 24 QC-Maxes and 12 x 174,000 cu m LNGCs, which puts the yard at the top of the world’s shipbuilders in terms of contract value and total payload capacity, Hudong-Zhonghua claimed.

‘Hlaitan’ was due to enter service on 11th December. Another LNGC is expected to join her by the end of this year.