Q-Max LNG Tanker

Description

Q-Max LNG tanker is a liquefied natural gas carrier. In the name Q-Max, “Q” stands for Qatar and “Max” for the maximum size of ship able to dock at the LNG terminals in Qatar. Ships of this type are the largest LNG carriers in the world.

The first Q-Max LNG carrier was floated out of dry-dock in November 2007, named Mozah by Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Nasser al-Misnad. The naming ceremony was on 11 July 2008 at Samsung Heavy Industries’ shipyard on Geoje Island, South Korea. Mozah was delivered on 29 September 2008. It is classed by Lloyd’s Register. The first trip by a Q-Max tanker was completed by Mozah itself on 11 January 2009, when the tanker delivered 266,000 cubic meters of LNG to the Port of Bilbao BBG Terminal. Days before, the vessel had transited the Suez Canal for the first time.

Q-Max LNG carriers are operated by the STASCo (Shell International Trading and Shipping Company, London part of Shell International. They are owned by Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat) and they are chartered to Qatar’s LNG producers Qatargas and RasGas. In total, contracts were signed for the construction of 14 Q-Max vessels.

Fourteen sister vessels are in service named: Mozah, Al Mayeda, Mekaines, Al Mafyar, Umm Slal, Bu Samra, Al Ghuwairiya, Lijmiliya, Al Samriya, Al Dafna, Shagra, Zarga, Aamira, and Rasheeda. All 14 Q-Max ships were delivered in 2008 through 2010.

A ship size of Q-Max LNG tanker is 345 meters (1,132 ft) long and measures 53.8 meters (177 ft) wide and 34.7 meters (114 ft) high, with a draft of approximately 12 meters (39 ft). It has an LNG capacity of 266,000 cubic meters (9,400,000 cu ft), equal to 161,994,000 cubic meters (5.7208×109 cu ft) of natural gas. It is propelled by two slow speed diesel engines burning HFO, which are claimed to be more efficient and environmentally friendly than traditional steam turbines.[11] In case of engine failure, the failed engine can be de-coupled allowing the ship to maintain a speed of 14 knots.

Q-Max vessels are equipped with an on-board re-liquefaction system to handle the boil-off gas, liquefy it and return the LNG to the cargo tanks. The on-board re-liquefaction system allows a reduction of LNG losses, which produces economic and environmental benefits. Overall, it is estimated that Q-Max carriers have about 40% lower energy requirements and carbon emissions than conventional LNG carriers. The quoted estimates do however ignore the additional fuel used to re-liquify boil off gas rather than burn the gas for fuel. The ships run on Heavy fuel oil (HFO), but the Rasheeda was retrofitted with gas-burning ability in 2015.