September 24, a naming ceremony for a conventional LNG carrier, jointly ordered by MOL and China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited, was held at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd.
The newly built vessel was named the “LNG Dubhe” after a star in the constellation Ursa Major. She is the first of four newbuilding conventional LNG Carriers ordered for the Yamal LNG Project.
The “LNG Dubhe” is scheduled to go into LNG transportation service for the Yamal LNG project following its delivery at the shipyard in Hudong at the end of October.
MOL delivered three ice-breaking LNG carriers to the Project between 2018 and 2019, which are currently engaged in LNG transportation in the Northern Sea Route.
For the time being, “LNG Dubhe”will be engaged transporting the Project’s LNG from transshipment terminals in Europe or a location where Ship-to-ship transfer operations are carried out.
MOL has been operating 10 LNG carriers built in China for other projects, and “LNG Dubhe ”will be the 11th LNG carrier built in China among the company’s fleet.