LNG

Bureau Veritas has classed CMA CGM Notre Dame, a 24,092 TEU LNG dual-fuel ultra-large container ship delivered by Jiangsu Yangzi Xinfu Shipbuilding, marking the first in a planned series of 24 vessels for CMA CGM.

QatarEnergy's fleet of LNG carriers will reach 200 vessels within the next few years, driven by its 128-vessel shipbuilding program plus replacements. CEO Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi's said the company is finalizing contracts for over 100 newbuilds, with more to come.

South Korean shipbuilders have won all 30 orders for large LNGCs thus far this year.

The South Korean government will place the first order for vessels powered by liquefied natural gas by August to support a more environmentally-friendly shipping sector and to develop associated industries as well as more LNG bunkering facilities in its ports.

Samsung Heavy Industries, one of the three major global shipyards based in South Korea, has showcased to around 20 shipping companies its own liquefied natural gas regasification system for future installation on floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) newbuilds.

An order for four LNG tankers to serve BG Group's Queensland Curtis LNG project has been placed with China's Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Group. All four vessels will be on 20-year time charters to Methane Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the BG Group.

Qatar Gas Transport Co. (Nakilat), the state-controlled liquefied natural gas carrier company, said it plans to raise up to $4.3 billion from various sources to fund the building of 16 LNG carriers.