Qatari shipping firm Nakilat has reached a key milestone in its fleet expansion strategy, naming nine new vessels across three shipyards in South Korea: HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai Samho.

The naming ceremony is another milestone in the company’s long-term investment program, which is aimed at increasing the company’s shipping capacity and diversifying the range of services it offers to international energy markets.

The nine vessels comprise seven liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers - Al Ghuwair, Al Jazi, Al Mirzam, Maqdeem, Al Nasraniya, Energy Vigor and Energy Voyager and two vessels to carry liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and ammonia, Energy South and Energy East.

Expansion underpinned by two ship-building programs

Five of the seven LNG carriers are part of Nakilat’s broader program to build 25 conventional-size LNG vessels at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean.

Unlike other fleet arrangements, the five ships will be fully owned and operated by Nakilat. They will then be time-chartered to QatarEnergy affiliates under long-term contracts, adding further shipping capacity to support Qatar’s increasing LNG production and export activities.

The remaining four vessels two LNG carriers and two LPG/ammonia carriers are part of a separate six-vessel newbuilding program being carried out at HD Hyundai Samho.

Collectively, these projects demonstrate the level of Nakilat’s commitment to reinforcing its position in international gas transportation and preparing its fleet for evolving energy market requirements.

Back Qatar’s North Field expansion

Commenting on the milestone Nakilat Chief Executive Officer Eng. Abdullah Al Sulaiti said, “The naming ceremony is testimony to the tangible progress being made under the company’s long-term investment strategy and its partnership with QatarEnergy.

He pointed out the significance of the new vessels in meeting the increasing transportation needs resulting from the North Field expansion projects in Qatar.

Al Sulaiti also stressed that fleet expansion to include LPG and ammonia transportation will enable Nakilat to better cater to changing customer requirements. The diversification is expected to broaden the company’s service offerings, whilst underpinning Qatar’s position as a leading global LNG producer and exporter.

The CEO also recognized the contribution of the shipyards and project teams and thanked them for their dedication to safety, construction quality and operational excellence across the newbuilding programs.

A wider array of global energy transport capabilities

The seven LNG carriers are built to provide efficient and reliable transportation of liquefied natural gas from Qatar to international markets.

At the same time, the acquisition of Energy South and Energy East will broaden Nakilat’s scope beyond LNG shipping, giving it more flexibility to transport LPG and ammonia.

With the nine vessels now named across the three South Korean shipyards, Nakilat is continuing to expand and diversify its fleet. It further strengthens its position in Qatar’s energy logistics infrastructure and increases its capability to serve international customers in a wider range of gas transportation markets.