Japanese yards to build four more Cameron LNG ships

MHI tweaks to Moss type LNG carrier design include "apple shape" tanks to carry more cargo within a given hull size

SEPTEMBER 9, 2015 — Joint-venture companies established by Japan’s Chubu Electric Power Co. and operators Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) have ordered a total of four Moss type LNG carriers to to transport LNG for a 20-year period from the Freeport LNG Project in the U.S., in which Chubu Electric has an equity interest.

Two of the ships will be built by MI LNG Company Limited and two by Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. MI LNG is a  joint venture between Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (51%) and Imabari Shipbuilding (49%) and the two ships ordered from it will be built at MHI’s Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works. The two ships ordered from Kawasaki will be built at its Sakaide shipyard.

Both operators will operate one ship from each shipbuilder.

All four ships are scheduled for 2018 deliveries and all four could be described as Moss type ships that have been tweaked in various ways to get better efficiency and carry more gas. Needless to say, the MHI tweaks are somewhat different from the Kawasaki tweaks.

The MHI ships will carry 180,000 cu.m. of LNG and have dimensions 297.5 m x 48.94 m hull. The Kawasaki ships will carry 177,000 cu.m and will measure 300 m x 48.9 m.

The MHI vessels will have STaGE (steam turbine and gas engine) propulsion. The Kawaski ships will be dual fuel diesel electric powered.