Japan’s Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) and Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding (MES) said they have started their LNG ship repair business.
The two shipbuilding giants signed a joint venture deal in December last year. They aim to benefit from the importation of North American shale gas into Japan which they think will boost the demand for repairing of LNG carriers by domestic owners.
In a joint statement dated April 1, KHI and MES said they have launched MES-KHI Yura Dockyard, which will employ around 190 people. MES has a 60 percent stake in the yard with KHI holding the rest.
Both of the shipbuilders have many years of experience in buliding LNG carriers for customers around the globe.