Qatari shipowner Nakilat Shipping Qatar Ltd (NSQL) has assumed full ship management and operations of the Q-Flex LNG carrier Al Sadd from Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited (STASCO)
The move continues the second phase of Nakilat’s planned fleet management transition programme. With a cargo carrying capacity of 210,200 m3, Al Sadd is wholly owned by Nakilat (NSQL) and chartered by Qatargas. The vessel, built by South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), was delivered in September 2011 and has been in service ever since.
Al Sadd is the fifth vessel that will come under the ship management of NSQL this year, bringing the number of managed vessels to 24. NSQL manages 20 LNG and four liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers.
Nakilat commenced the second phase of the fleet management transition from STASCO to NSQL in May. Q-Max vessels Al Mayeda, Bu Samra and Al Samriya and Q-Flex gas ship Al Kharaitiyat were the first of seven LNG carriers to be transitioned in 2020.
During the first phase of transition in 2017, Nakilat brought 10 vessels to its inhouse ship management. Since then, NSQL has maintained excellent safety and operational performance above the industry average in the global shipping sector, said the company. Upon completion of the second phase vessel transition from STASCO, NSQL’s managed fleet will comprise 27 vessels, including 25 transferred vessels (21 LNG and four LPG carriers) and two newbuilds.
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