LNG

Nov 10 (LNGJ) - Four cargoes are heading for the European Union in the next couple of weeks from Qatar, Trinidad and the US. The Qatari Q-Flex vessel “Al Karaana” with 205,990 cubic metres capacity will berth at Zeebrugge on November 15 with volumes from Ras Laffan lifted on October 29. The “BW Cassia” with 170,8000 cubic metres capacity will discharge a Trinidad cargo on November 15 at the Eemshaven terminal in Groningen, according to shipping data. The volumes were lifted on October 29 from the Caribbean plant at Point Fortin.

   The carrier “Isabella” with 174,130 cubic metres of capacity is scheduled to discharge a US cargo on November 19 at the Dutch Gate terminal in Rotterdam. The cargo was lifted on November 7 from the Sabine Pass plant in Louisiana. Germany will receive a cargo on November 23 at the North Sea port of Wilhelmshaven on board the carrier “Adriano Knutsen” with 179,980 cubic metres of capacity. The volumes were loaded on November 7 at the Corpus Christi plant in Texas.

Oct 5 (LNG) - Two cargoes are heading for Belgium and the Netherlands later in October. The vessel “Adriano Knutsen” with 178,980 cubic metres of capacity is due to arrive with a US cargo on October 18 at the Dutch Eemshaven floating import facilities in Groningen. The cargo was loaded on October 3 at the Cameron export plant in Louisiana, according to shipping data. The carrier “Umm Bab” with 143,700 cubic metres of capacity is scheduled to deliver a cargo from Qatar on October 21 to the Zeebrugge terminal in Belgium. The shipment was lifted on October 3 at Ras Laffan.

Feb 21 (LNGJ) - Three LNG cargoes are due in Europe in the next few days, heading for the UK, the Netherlands and Belgium. The UK is scheduled to receive a shipment from Angola at the Isle of Grain terminal southeast of London on February 23 from the “Sonangol Benguela” with 160,500 cubic metres of capacity. The cargo was lifted on February 7 from the southwest African nation’s Soyo plant, operated by Chevron.

   The 179,980 cubic metres capacity “Adriano Knutsen” is due to deliver a US shipment on February 24 to the Gate terminal in Rotterdam. The cargo was lifted on February 11 from the Corpus Christi plant in Texas operated by Cheniere Energy. The delivery for Belgium at Zeebrugge will come on February 24 from Qatar onboard the 147,800 cubic metres capacity vessel “Al Deebel”, which departed on February 6 from the Qatari plant at Ras Laffan.

Feb 15 (LNGJ) - Belgium and the Netherlands are scheduled to receive a combined six LNG cargoes through February 24. The 172,600 cubic metres capacity vessel “Vladimir Vize” will discharge a cargo on February 17 at the Zeebrugge terminal in Belgium from the Yamal plant in Arctic Russia lifted on February 11, according to shipping data. A second cargo will arrive at Zeebrugge from Qatar on February 19 on the 210,000 Q-Flex vessel “Al Ruwais”. A third cargo for Belgium will be unloaded on February 24 from the Qatari vessel “Al Deebel” with 143, 000 cubic metres of capacity.

   Three LNG shipments are also headed for the Dutch Gate terminal in Rotterdam. The “Grace Freesia” with 171,000 of capacity was berthing on February 15 with a US cargo from Sabine Pass in Louisiana. The “Vivit Arabia” with 171,000 cubic metres capacity will unload a US cargo on February 18 in Rotterdam from Calcasieu Pass in Louisiana. Then on February 24 the 180,000 cubic metres capacity carrier “Adriano Knutsen” will discharge a shipment from Corpus Christi LNG in Texas lifted on February 11, the data showed.

Knutsen OAS Shipping, the Norwegian LNG and tanker fleet owner with more than 30 vessels, has chosen Dutch-based AkzoNobel to supply marine coatings for its latest newbuilds from the South Korean shipyard of Hyundai Heavy Industries.

Two more Knutsen vessels have received hull coatings from AkzoNobel’s high-performance Intershield 300 and Intersleek foul-release products.

AkzoNobel, the global paint and coatings supplier whose brands include Dulux paints, said another two recent newbuilt Knutsen LNG carriers received the coatings. They are the “Adriano Knutsen”, which has already left the shipyard, and the “Rias Baixas Knutsen” whose delivery is imminent.

The Knutsen LNG fleet now numbers 13 vessels with delivery of the newbuilds.

“Knutsen has used Intershield 300 on our vessels for a long time,” said Oliver Smith, Project Manager of the shipping company.

“The reason Knutsen applied Intershield 300 on our new LNGs is because we knew that in the long term, we were able to benefit from the lower maintenance cost,” explained Smith.

“When we have inspected the ballast tanks every five years for our vessels in service having Intershield 300, the number of repairs has been very minimal,” Smith added.

Intersleek was the industry’s first biocide-free foul release coating when it was released in 1996 and provides complete fouling prevention to the hulls of vessels prior to and after dry-docking.

“We’re delighted that our high-performing marine coatings were selected for Knutsen’s latest LNG vessels and proud that our experience and capability in coatings for LNG continues to be recognized,” said Jean-Michel Gauthier, Director of AkzoNobel’s Marine and Protective Coatings business.

Knutsen’s Smith said that the fuel consumption after five years as compared to year one (initial application of Intersleek) is maintained.

“This high performance also keeps future dry-docking costs down. After five years in service, the vessel had to only have one full finish coat applied instead of having to apply a full scheme,” said Smith.

“Knutsen has experienced the formation of green slime due to short lay-up and waiting periods. However, after sailing to the next port of call, the green slime was completely released, saving on any hull cleaning services at the port,” he added.