New Doha hub brings gas carrier expertise and classification support for LNG and gas projects, targeting stakeholders in Qatar and beyond
A new LNG-focused hub has been launched in Doha to provide technical and regulatory support for LNG and gas projects, with a stated remit covering local, regional and international stakeholders.
Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore said it has launched a Gas Center of Excellence in Doha, describing it as a consolidation point for expertise spanning gas carrier operations, classification and regulatory compliance.
The organisation said the centre has been staffed by “a dedicated team of gas specialists” with experience in gas carrier operations for newbuilding phases and for vessels in service.
In outlining the rationale and geographic focus, the classification society said the centre has been designed to provide “responsive, high-level support” for stakeholders in Qatar, across the Middle East and internationally, linking this to “the scale of gas investment and fleet expansion in the region and beyond.”
Bureau Veritas emphasised its footprint in the region, stating that it operated across 13 offices in the Middle East with around 120 specialists, and that it has classed more than 1,250 ships in the area.
On gas shipping, Bureau Veritas stated that its fleet of gas carriers in service totals 344 vessels, including 153 LNG carriers, and as of end-2025, 21% of LNG carriers on order and 19% of LNG vessels in operation sailed under its class.
Bureau Veritas executive vice president, industrials and commodities, Matthieu de Tugny said, “The expansion of gas infrastructure is a full value-chain challenge, not only a maritime one.”
He added, “With our Gas Center of Excellence in Doha, Bureau Veritas is combining classification with our broader testing, inspection and certification expertise to support stakeholders, from production and liquefaction to transport, terminals and distribution networks, helping them to manage complexity, ensure asset integrity, and improve performance safely and sustainably across the entire supply chain.”
Bureau Veritas president, marine and offshore Alex Gregg-Smith linked the initiative to changes in gas shipping capabilities and support needs, saying, “Shipping sits at the core of global gas trade, and LNG carriers, bunkering vessels and floating units are becoming ever-more sophisticated.”
He said, “BV’s new Gas Center of Excellence strengthens Bureau Veritas’ ability to support shipowners, operators and shipyards with deep operational expertise, from newbuildings to vessels in service, helping clients manage risk, meet evolving regulations and adopt advanced technologies while improving safety, performance and sustainability across their fleets.”
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