Original news was published on 14 May, 2015

Tokyo-based Nippon Yusen Kabashiki Kaisha (NYK) ordered two liquefied natural gas carriers from the compatriot shipbuilder MI LNG Company Limited, to be used to transport gas from the US Cameron LNG Project in Louisiana to Japan.

NYK also signed a basic agreement on a time-charter contract for the two new 165,000 cbm LNG carriers with Diamond Gas International, due to start upon the delivery of the carriers in 2018.

The new vessels will have apple-shaped tanks as part of the Sayaringo series of tanks, which have greater LNG-carrying capacity. These next-generation carriers will also have a structure that reduces ship weight and air resistance, in addition to a hybrid propulsion system combining a steam turbine and engines that can be fired by gas (STaGE; Steam Turbine and Gas Engines).

Cameron LNG is jointly owned by Sempra, GDF SUEZ, Mitsui and Japan LNG Investment, a company jointly owned by Mitsubishi Corporation and NYK. Mitsubishi and NYK hold a 16.6% share in the Project.

Cameron LNG’s export capability is expected to be approximately 12 million tons per annum and will be utilized from 2018 by GDF SUEZ S.A., Mitsui and Mitsubishi in accordance with a tolling agreement among the parties.

In April 2011, NYK launched its three-year medium-term management plan, ‘More Than Shipping 2013,’ and one of the goals of this plan was for NYK to grow its business by leveraging its know-how in LNG and offshore business activities.

MI LNG is a joint venture between Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Imabari Shipbuilding established to design and build LNG carriers.

*NEW SOURCE