A new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier has been delivered to a consortium comprising Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL), Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line), and the Shipping Corporation of India Ltd. (SCI).
Handed over on November 30 in South Korea, the membrane-type vessel, named Prachi, has a capacity of 173,000 m3.
It was built to order by Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. based on a long-term time charter contract with India’s LNG importer Petronet LNG Limited (PLL).
The company currently brings in 7.5 million tons of LNG a year from Qatar using three LNG carriers. Prachi is the fourth vessel for the transport of LNG to India and will be employed in the Gorgon LNG Project in Australia.
Shipping Corporation Of India, which took over as manager of the new ship since delivery, has been operating and managing all the LNG tankers that are under long-term charter with PLL.