Tokyo Gas orders LNG tanker

Tokyo LNG Tanker Co., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Japan’s top gas distributor Tokyo Gas Co Ltd, has ordered an LNG tanker from Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corp, a unit of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, for delivery in 2011. The 177,000 m3 tanker will be able to carry about 82,000 tonnes of LNG and will be co-owned by Tokyo Gas (10%) and Nippon Yusen (90%). When delivered, the newbuilding will be used exclusively for Tokyo Gas on a 20-year time charter to ship LNG from projects such as in Australia, Malaysia and Russia.

This will be the eighth LNG carrier in Tokyo LNG Tanker???s fleet. Like the existing LNG carriers in the company???s fleet, the new carrier is expected to call LNG terminals worldwide. In particular, it aims to maximize its tank capacity while providing compatibility with major terminals in the Asia-Pacific region (???Pacific Max??), and to achieve 14% more capacity than the current standard 155,000m3 design for providing more efficient transportation of LNG.

The four spherical LNG tank Moss-type carrier will be equipped with Kawasaki???s advanced reheat turbine power plant for propulsion and will be the first LNG carrier to be fitted with this system enabling 15% higher fuel efficiency.