INPEX of Japan announced shipbuilding and shipping contracts for two new vessels which will offtake and deliver LNG from the Ichthys LNG Project offshore Western Australia to Japan and Taiwan.
Through its wholly owned subsidiary INPEX Shipping, one LNG vessel will be jointly owned with Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line) through Ocean Breeze LNG Transport and built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The vessel will be operated by Ocean Breeze LNG Transport as a time charter.
The 155,300 cubic metre capacity carrier will offtake 900,000 tonnes per annum of LNG from the Ichthys LNG Project and features an innovative peapod-shaped continuous cover protecting the four moss spherical tanks. The reduced weight combined with reheated steam turbine propulsion will contribute to an expected 20 per cent or more decrease in fuel consumption per unit cargo compared to conventional vessels.
A second, 182,000 cubic metre capacity vessel will also be operated as a time charter by “K” Line for delivery to CPC Corporation, Taiwan.
These arrangements will contribute to strengthening INPEX’s global gas supply chain which connects INPEX’s overseas gas assets with its Naoetsu LNG Receiving Terminal in Joetsu and its natural gas pipeline network in Japan.
[mappress] LNG World News Staff, June 04, 2013; Image: Inpex