GLNG: Qatar signs deals to charter more LNG carriers as it eyes greater market share

QatarEnergy has come to agreement with four Asian shipbuilders to charter 19 LNG carriers, the state-run company announced on March 31.

The Gulf country will contract six LNG carriers each from China’s CMES and Shandong Marine Energy. It will also obtain three vessels from Malaysia’s MISC and a joint venture between Hyundai Glovis and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha will supply four.

All 19 vessels will boast a capacity of 174,000 cubic metres. South Korean shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries will build the vessels for CMES, Shandong Marine Energy and MISC. The four vessels chartered from Hyundai Glovis and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha will be built by another South Korea firm, Hanwha Ocean shipbuilders.

The announcement by Qatari Energy Minister and CEO of QatarEnergy, Saad al-Kaabi, comes as the Gulf country pushes to obtain additional LNG carriers to coincide with the country’s massive expansion of its LNG output.