LNG carrier demand a catalyst for new JDP
The JDP was signed by Jin-Taek Jung, executive vice president, Engineering & Procurement Operations, SHI; and Timo Koponen, vice president, Processing Solutions, Wärtsilä Marine
A new joint development project (JDP) is to focus on developing more efficient designs for LNG carriers and shuttle tankers. Overall cost optimisation, including both capital and operating costs, is one of the key aims of the project.
The companies said that an important driver has been the potentially strong LNG carrier newbuilding market, with “potentially dozens of new vessels to be ordered for transporting increasing volumes of LNG from both new and extended export LNG terminals in Africa, Australia, Middle East and USA.”
There are now more than 140 LNG carriers on order, equivalent to about 26% of the existing fleet. Meanwhile, Qatar Petroleum companies are considering contracts for up to 60 new vessels as they plan to ramp up production from 70 million tonnes a year to 110 million tonnes.
