Liquified Natural Gas has a diverse range of uses in the commercial, industrial, transportation and energy sectors as it is a clean and environmentally sustainable fuel. Hence, the global LNG market has steadily expanded in recent years. This increased worldwide demand has prompted maritime developments to construct bigger and better LNG carriers.
Decked with the latest maritime innovations and designed to perfection, these LNG tankers can operate in the toughest areas, such as the North Atlantic, filled with ice waters.
In this article, let us look at the world’s biggest LNG Ships and their distinguishing features.
1. Al Dafna ( Q-Max LNG Carrier)
Nakilat Shipping Qatar Ltd manages and operates the Q-Max LNG Carrier Al Dafna. It is an LNG tanker currently sailing under the Marshall Islands Flag.
It was constructed in 2009 in Korea by Samsung Heavy Industries and has a gross tonnage of 163922 and a deadweight of 130157. It has an overall length of 345 m and a 53.8 m beam. It has a LNG carrying capacity of 266,366 m3.
Qatar Gas, a prominent LNG company, operates Qmax Ships. The Qmax LNG carriers are the biggest in the world, wherein the name ‘QMax’ stands for the country of operation and the maximum size of the tanker able to dock at Qatar’s LNG terminal facilities. These LNG tankers use a type of membrane technology that ensures maximum efficiency.
Qatar Gas owns 14 Q-Max Ships with a total LNG capacity between 26,3000 to 266,000 m3. The Q-max ships are around 354 m long and 55 m wide, with a maximum draft of 12 m. The construction of these vessels was part of an expansive fleet construction programme that evolved over five decades. These carriers were built in South Korea and currently transport LNG to all major port facilities worldwide.
The Q-Max ships are known not only for their size but for their other advanced features too. The ships’ engines burn significantly fewer amounts of fuel compared to conventional carriers, hence producing 35% lesser carbon emissions. Another novel feature is the non-carbon fire-extinguishing system, the first to be used in an LNG carrier. Thus, these carriers have drastically reduced the costs of transportation.
2. Mozah
This Q-Max LNG carrier was constructed in 2008 by Samsung Heavy Industries. It is named after Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, wife of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani who was then the Emir of Qatar.
Mozah is 345 m long and 53 m wide with a 12 m summer draft. Its humongous size is combined with its efficiency and profitability.
Mozah has a deadweight of 128,900 DWT and has a gross tonnage of 163,922 GT. These features allow it to carry 266,000 m3 of LNG with a temperature of −163 °C.
3. Al Ghashamiya ( Q-Flex LNG Carrier)
This Q-Flex LNG Carrier was built in 2009 and is presently sailing under the Marshall Islands Flag. Its LNG carrying capacity is 211,885 m3. It has an LOA of 315.06 m and is 50.03 m wide.
The QFlex ships’ fleet operated by Qatar Gas comprises the second-biggest LNG carriers in the world. Until the Qmax-type ships were not in operation, these were the biggest LNG carriers, capable of carrying twice the amount of LNG carried by conventional tanker ships. The first Q-Flex ship was constructed by Hyundai Heavy Industries in 2007.
A total of 31 of these LNG Tankers carry LNG to regions like the Far East, Mediterranean, and Europe. Measuring 315 m lengthwise and 50 m breadthwise with a maximum draft of 11 m, these carriers have a carrying capacity of 210,000 to 217,000 m3.
They are also claimed to be more environmentally sustainable than other LNG carriers since they have fewer fuel requirements and produce fewer emissions. They also possess re-liquefaction technology that decreases the loss of LNG from the ships’ tanks. The earliest Q-flex vessels include Al Hamla, Al Aamriya, Al Huwaila etc.
4. Gail Bhuwan
The LNG Tanker named Gail Bhuwan was manufactured in 2021 by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd. for Gail Limited, the biggest LNG company in India. The tanker would transport LNG from US facilities to the Indian ports to meet India’s LNG needs and expand this clean fuel market in the nation.
Currently, Gail Bhuwan is registered and is sailing under the flagship of Cyprus. A massive tanker laden with the latest maritime technology, it measures 297.9 m lengthwise and 47.9 m breadthwise, with a maximum draft of 11.5 m.
The gross tonnage of the vessel is around 119891 tonnes, and its deadweight is 98300 tonnes. It has an LNG carrying capacity of 180,000 m3 and a maximum sailing speed of 20 knots, with an average speed of around 15.9 knots approximately. A membrane-type LNG tanker, it is operated by MOL LNG Transport Europe LTD.
5. LNG Schneeweisschen
This LNG Ship was constructed in 2018 by DSME and is presently sailing under the flag of Panama. It is 297.9 m long and 47.9 m wide. It has an 11.5 m draft and a cargo tank capacity of 180,000 m3.
It is endowed with an X-DF double engine with a twin shaft system and can attain a speed of 19.5 knots ea…
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