Nakilat and Shell agree LNG carrier management transition

Shell has provided a range of shipping services to Nakilat’s LNG fleet since it was established in 2006, including the ship management of 14 Q-Max and eleven Q-Flex LNG carriers and the sharing of expertise from Shell Shipping & Maritime, the Dutch Shell group’s maritime centre. The vessels will be transitioned in three phases starting this year and managed by Nakilat’s in-house ship management arm, NSQL, which currently manages four large LPG carriers and four Q-Flex LNG carriers.
Nakilat says it has carried out extensive studies and comprehensive preparations and planning to ensure the successful management of these "essential assets" in Qatar’s gas supply chain.
Nakilat’s managing director Abdullah Fadhalah Al Sulaiti called the agreement with Shell "a milestone in Nakilat’s history as we embark on consolidating a full-fledged ship operation for our wholly owned vessels. It is a pivotal strategic milestone towards Nakilat’s ambition of establishing an integrated maritime industry in Qatar."
This will be the world's largest transition of an LNG fleet operation, according to Nakilat. The 25 vessels have so far delivered more than 320 million cubic metres of Qatar’s LNG to over 20 countries, and have travelled 17 million nautical miles, the company says.