UK: First Q-Max Berths at Grain LNG Terminal

The Bu Samra berthed today, 20 April, at National Grid’s LNG importation terminal at the Isle of Grain in Kent.

This is the first Q-Max tanker, the world’s largest class of LNG carrier, to arrive at Grain. It is only since the commissioning of the second jetty in December 2010 that the terminal has been able to accept these.

Peter Boreham, Director of UK LNG for National Grid, said: “This marks another milestone in the history of the Grain LNG terminal, which has the capacity to supply 20% of annual UK gas demand. The most recent capacity expansion at Grain, delivered on time and to budget, means our customers can use the world’s largest LNG carriers to deliver gas in to the LNG terminal with the UK’s largest tank capacity.”

Centrica Energy Managing Director Mark Hanafin also welcomed the arrival of the Q-Max tanker, the world’s largest class of LNG carrier, into the Isle of Grain terminal in the Thames Estuary today: “Liquefied Natural Gas will play an increasingly important role in helping to meet the UK’s future energy needs, so it’s vital that we have terminals like this that have the capability to receive large carriers such as the Q-Max. Centrica will this week finalise a deal with Qatar Gas to deliver 2.4 million tonnes of LNG every year via the Isle of Grain, enough to meet the needs of around two and a half million UK households.”

Paul Kavanagh Managing Director for Peel Ports Medway, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Bu Samra to Peel Ports Medway, with it being both the largest ever vessel and biggest LNG vessel to visit the Medway. This demonstrates Peel Ports Medway’s capability of handling vessels of this scale and is also significant given it’s the first Q-Max carrier to arrive at Isle of Grain LNG following the recent Phase III expansion process.”

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Source: National Grid UK, April 20, 2011;