QatarEnergy has inaugurated two LNG vessels, the Rex Tillerson and Umm Ghuwailina, under its shipbuilding programme.

The Rex Tillerson was named after the former Chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil as a tribute to his accomplishments in the energy sector.

The naming ceremony was held at the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai and attended by HE Mr. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Minister of State for Energy Affairs, President and CEO of QatarEnergy, Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the CEO of QatarEnergy LNG, Jia Haiying, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Chief Financial Officer of China State Shipbuilding Coproration (CSSC), Chen Jianliang, the Chairman of Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, Takeshi Hashimoto, President and CEO of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, and Zhu Bixin, President of China COSCO SHIPPING Corporation.

Minister Al-Kaabi said, “As the first ship in our new LNG fleet, the Rex Tillerson will undoubtedly play a significant role as she carries Qatari-produced LNG to many receiving terminals across the globe.”

The pair are part of 12 conventional-size LNG vessels contracted with the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard, all equipped with the latest maritime technology. They are set to be delivered ahead of their contracted delivery schedule, under long-term charter by QatarEnergy Trading (QET).

Qatar has announced an 85% increase capacity in LNG, rising from 77 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 142 MTPA by 2030.

To read the LNG-themed September issue of gasworld global, click here