Mitsui O.S.K. Lines said it has taken delivery of the LNG carrier Papua, built by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, on January 30.
The Papua is the first in a series of four ships to be built by Hudong to provide LNG transportation for the PNG LNG project in Papua New Guinea and the Gorgon LNG project in Australia, MOL said in a statement.
MOL will operate the Papua under a long-term charter contract for the PNG LNG project operated by ExxonMobil.
The project scope is for the transportation of LNG for China’s energy company, China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation. The vessel is co-owned by a Chinese ship-owner, China Shipping (Group) Company and SINOPEC.
In cooperation with its Chinese partners, MOL started an initiative to build a further six new LNG carriers for SINOPEC. These ships are now under construction at Hudong. A total of 10 vessels, including the four serving the PNG LNG and Gorgon projects, will be completed by 2017.
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Image: Hudong Zhonghua