NYK Concludes Shipbuilding Contract on Two LNG Carriers for Osaka Gas
December 13, 2004
Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) is to build and operate two LNG carriers (gross tonnage: 124,000 tons) for use by Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. (President: Hirobumi Shibano) in order to import liquefied natural gas (LNG), and has concluded the shipbuilding contract with Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation (President: Shuichi Tadokoro). The first carrier is scheduled to be completed in December 2008, and the second carrier is due for completion in 2009.
Both carriers will have an overall length of 289.5m with a capacity of 153,000m3. Thus, although these carriers will have the same external overall size as the 145,000-cubic meter-class carriers, the new ships will have 5.5% greater capacity, enabling them to provide more efficient transportation. Although the height of three out of the carrier's four spherical LNG tanks has been raised by about two meters in a vertical direction, the fuel consumption remains almost the same as that of conventional carriers, demonstrating their economical efficiency.
Moreover, their specifications enable entry into the main LNG ports around the world.
The first carrier will enter service for the "Qalhat LNG Project" through which LNG is imported from Oman. Osaka Gas will commence receiving LNG from 2009 and import approximately 800,000 tons annually. This first carrier will be jointly owned by NYK, Osaka Gas International Transport Inc. (President: Yasuo Ryoki), an affiliated company of Osaka Gas, and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (President: Yasuhide Sakinaga).
The second carrier owned by NYK and Osaka Gas International Transport, will be operated for a new LNG project that Osaka Gas is to develop.
NYK already owns two LNG carriers operating for the Indonesia Badak IV LNG project and one operating for the Oman LNG project. In addition the Company is building another carrier (to be inaugurated in September 2006) for the West Australian Expansion Project. Several companies including NYK and Osaka Gas International Transport share the ownership of these carriers in the same way as the two new carriers. NYK operates all except one of these carriers for the Badak IV LNG project.
Project Outline| Qalhat LNG Project The second LNG project in which Oman is the principal investor. The maximum annual production capability accounts for approximately 3.7 million tons. The project is scheduled to commence production in 2006. Its plant is located adjacent to the site of the first Oman LNG project, named "the Oman LNG project. |
Outline of the newly-built LNG Carriers
| First Carrier | Second Carrier | |
| Length Overall | 289.50m | |
| Breadth | 49.00m | |
| Depth, to upper deck | 27.00m | |
| Draught | 11.76m | |
| LNG Tank System | 1 x Spherical Tank (Moss Style) 3 x Stretch Spherical Tanks (Moss Style) Cargo Tank Capacity: About 153,000m3 (Equivalent to approximately 71,900 Tons of Loaded LNG Weight) |
|
| Gross Tonnage | Approximately 124,000 tons | |
| Deadweight Tonnage | Approximately 74,900 tons | |
| Main Engine | Steam Turbine | |
| Speed | 19.5 knots | |
| Owner and Ratio of Ownership | Osaka Gas International Transport: 85% NYK: 10% Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd.: 5% *Oman Shipping Company is to fund hereafter. |
Osaka Gas International Transport: 60.1% NYK: 39.9% |
| Shipbuilder | Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation | |
| Expected Carrier Operator | NYK | |
| Expected Service Commencement Date | December 2008 | July 2009 |
| Name of Ship | Undecided | Undecided |