MHI Bags LNG Carrier Duo
Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has received an order for two next-generation LNG (liquefied natural gas) carriers from Mitsui & Co., Ltd.
The vessels are scheduled for completion and delivery in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
They are intended to service the Cameron LNG Project under way in the United States.
MHI said that this is the first order at the shipyard for LNG carriers to transport shale gas.
The order for the two LNG carriers was received through MI LNG Company, Limited, a joint venture between MHI and Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
The vessels will be constructed at MHI’s Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works.
“The carriers on order feature a design that achieves significant improvements in both LNG carrying capacity and fuel performance through the adoption of a more efficient hull structure and an innovative hybrid propulsion system,” MHI added.
In terms of specifications , the vessels will have LOA (length overall) of 297.5m, width of 48.94m, depth of 27.0m and draft of 11.5m.
The carriers will have four apple-shaped tanks, an improved version of high-reliability Moss-type2 tanks designed with a bulging upper half.
Total holding capacity of the tanks will be 177,000 cubic meters (m3).
According to MHI, LNG carrying efficiency has been increased as the vessel width has been kept to a size enabling its passage through the newly expanding Panama Canal expected to go into service early in 2016.
The LNG carriers on order feature a hybrid propulsion system dubbed “STaGE” (Steam Turbine and Gas Engines), which combines a steam turbine and engines that can be fired by gas.
