MT MOL FSRU Challenger

History
The Bahamas
NameMOL FSRU Challenger
OwnerMOL LNG Transport (Europe) Ltd.
OperatorMOL LNG Transport (Europe) Ltd.
BuilderDaewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering
Christened28 September 2017
Completed10 October 2017
In service2017
HomeportNassau
Identification
General characteristics
Typefloating storage and regasification unit (FSRU)
Tonnage
  • 169,293 GT
  • 151,500 DWT
Length345.50 m (1,133 ft 6 in)
Beam55.00 m (180 ft 5 in)
Draft10.70 m (35 ft 1 in)
Speedmax. 18.0 knots (33.3 km/h; 20.7 mph)
Capacity
  • storage 263×10^3 m3 (9.3×10^6 cu ft)
  • regasification 23×10^6 m3/d (800×10^6 cu ft/d) at 1 atm

MT MOL FSRU Challenger is a Bahamas-flagged liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, which is currently laid up in Hong Kong.[1]

Characteristics

The vessel was built for the Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) at Okpo shipyard of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering in South Korea.[2][3] She was named MOL FSRU Challenger at a ceremony held at the shipyard on 28 September 2017.[2] With an LNG storage capacity of 263,000 m3 (9,300,000 cu ft), she is the world's largest floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU).[2][4][5] The regasification capacity is 800 million standard cubic feet per day.[3] She features LNG re-shipment and gas transfer capabilities. She is able to re-export LNG and supply the neighboring regions around her with LNG.[6]

She was delivered to her owner, the Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) LNG Transport (Europe) Ltd. on 10 October 2017.[4][7] The vessel is 345.50 m (1,133 ft 6 in) long, has a beam of 55.00 m (180 ft 5 in) and a draft of 10.70 m (35 ft 1 in). At 151,500 DWT,[6] she has a service speed of 18.0 knots (33.3 km/h; 20.7 mph).[1] She sails under the flag of The Bahamas with home port Nassau.[6][7]

Charter operations

In 2016, before the delivery of the vessel, the Gas Sayago Company in Uruguay signed a formal agreement to charter the FSRU. However, due to delays, the deal was terminated without realization.[5]

Turkey

BOTAŞ, the Turkish state-owned company for crude oil and natural gas pipelines, chartered the vessel under a short-term contract to be used as an offshore storage terminal.[2][4][5] She sailed to eastern Mediterranean Sea arriving at Dörtyol, Hatay Province in November the same year.[4] On 7 February 2018, she went in operation at the Botaş Dörtyol LNG Storage Facility.[8] She is the second FSRU after MT GDF Suez Neptune, which serves at Egegaz Aliağa LNG Storage Facility in western Turkey.[6]

Hong Kong

The ship owner announced in June 2018 that the vessel will go into service at the Hong Kong Offshore LNG Terminal to supply Hong Kong, the Black Point Power Station located at New Territories and Lamma Power Station at Lamma Island with natural gas after the completion of the facility by the end of 2020.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b "MOL FSRU Challenger". Marine Traffic. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d "Naming Ceremony Held for World's Largest FSRU". Mitsui O.S.K. Lines. 29 September 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  3. ^ a b c "MOL In Exclusive Discussions To Utilize "MOL FSRU Challenger" For Hong Kong Offshore LNG Terminal Project". Mitsui O.S.K. Lines. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d "World's largest FSRU starts operating in Turkey". World News. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  5. ^ a b c Thomas, Karen (29 September 2017). "Confirmed: MOL fixes the world's largest FSRU to Turkey". LNG World Shipping. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  6. ^ a b c d "Turkey Starts Operation of Its Second Floating LNG Unit". World Maritime News. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Mol Fsru Challenger". Q88. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  8. ^ "Botaş-Dörtyol FSRU Teriminal Açılış Töreni". Haber7 (in Turkish). 7 February 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2019.