Qatar to have worlds largest LNG fleet

Qatar will have the world’s largest fleet of LNG carriers within five years, according to Robert Curt, the managing director of Qatar Gas Transport Company (QGTC) which manages the marine interests of the Ras Laffan industrial city’s LNG and pipeline projects.

Curt said Qatar anticipates requiring a total of about 90 LNG carriers to handle its natural gas exports over the next five years, which includes over 48 that are currently in service or on order. “This will be the largest fleet of LNG carriers servicing one natural gas producing country. In addition, we will also need a number of LPG and sulphur carriers,” said Curt, who has spent over three decades involved in the sea transportation of petroleum.

He also said: “There is also a need to find safe, reliable, third party ship operators and crews until QGTC is ready to take on the operation of the vessels ourselves. On LPG, matching up our vessel assets with the transportation needs of the marketers will be a challenge, since unlike LNG, LPG is normally sold under short-term contracts and can be sold either delivered or on an FOB basis”.