Fourth New LNG Carrier Joins MOL’s Fleet

Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) took delivery of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier Kumul at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding in Shanghai on April 29.

The 290-meter long vessel, which was ordered by MOL subsidiary Gemini LNG Shipping Limited, is the last in a series of four newbuilding LNG carriers ordered by MOL to provide LNG transportation for projects in Papua New Guinea.

Featuring a cargo tank capacity of 171,800 m3, the vessel will be operated under a long-term charter contract for the PNG LNG project operated by ExxonMobil, MOL said.

The first vessel from the batch, the Papua, was delivered in January 2015, the second one, the Southern Cross, joined its owner in June that year, while the owner took delivery of the third one, the Beidou Star, in November 2015.

All vessels have been launched to sail under long-term charters with ExxonMobil.

In April MOL launched the operation of its newly established LNG carrier management company, MOL LNG Transport (MOLLNG (Asia)) in order to meet demands of an anticipated growth in LNG transport sector for Asia.

The company revealed its intention to play a central role in ship management, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, as it becomes involved in the operation of a growing number of LNG carriers.

The company is currently involved in the operation of about 70 LNG carriers.