On April 17, a joint venture company comprising NYK, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd., MISC Berhad, and China LNG Shipping (Holdings) Limited held a naming ceremony for a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier for QatarEnergy, the state-owned energy company of Qatar. The ceremony was held at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd. in China, and the vessel was named "Al Tuwar" after the name of a hill in Al Wakrah, a Major city in Qatar.

This vessel is the first of a series of 12 LNG carriers that the joint venture company will build for QatarEnergy, one of the world's largest LNG producers. It is also the first LNG carrier that NYK is involved in building in China. The vessel is scheduled to begin transporting LNG to countries around the world in May.

The vessel is equipped with the X-DF 2.1 iCER engine, a highly fuel-efficient dual-fuel engine that uses fuel oil and boil-off gas as fuel. It is also equipped with a reliquefaction device that effectively uses surplus boil-off gas, enabling efficient navigation and contributing to reducing greenhouse gases (GHG), thereby reducing the environmental impact.

Vessel Particulars
Cargo capacity: approx. 174,000 m³
Length: approx. 299.00 m
Beam: 46.40 m
Main engine: X-DF2.1 iCER (dual-fuel slow-speed diesel engine)
Builder: Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd.


The core strategy of the NYK Group’s medium-term management plan, "Sail Green, Drive Transformations 2026," is to deepen the Group’s existing core businesses and invest in new growth businesses. In its Energy Business Division, NYK has centered its strengthened efforts on the LNG/LPG carrier business, which the company has positioned as a growth area. NYK will contribute to realizing a stable energy supply in Japan by leveraging the experience, know-how, and networks the NYK Group has cultivated as one of the world's largest LNG carrier-owning and management companies.

QatarEnergy
Headquarters: Doha, Qatar
President and CEO: H. E. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi
Website: https://www.qatarenergy.qa/en/Pages/vHome.aspx

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd.
Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Representative Executive Officer, President & CEO: Takenori Igarashi
Website: https://www.kline.co.jp/en/index.html

MISC Berhad
Headquarters: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
President & Group CEO: Zahid Osman
Website: https://www.miscgroup.com/

China LNG Shipping (Holdings) Limited
Headquarters: Hong Kong, China
General Manager: Cong Jian
Website: https://www.c-lngs.com/en