AL ZUBARAH LNG tanker

[aukepalmhof]

Inauguration of the Ras Laffan natural gas terminal in 1997, LNG tanker.

LNG tanker:..... for more than 30 years, liquefied natural gas (LNG) has been transported on special tankers. From 1959 to 1960, LNG transport was organised between Lake Charles (Louisiana) and the island of Canvey (Thames estuary) using a cargo ship converted in 1957, the "METHANE PIONIER". The ship was then sold to Panama and used there.

When large natural gas deposits were found in the Sahara in 1956, the Liberty ship "BEAUVAIS" was converted for LNG transport in the "Chantiers de l'Atlantique" shipyard. In 1964, the first special LNG tanker, the "PYTHAGORE", was built in Le Havre. It had a cargo volume of 630 m³.

The first commercial shipment of LNG from the Algerian port of Arzew on the Mediterranean to the island of Canvey in Great Britain took place in October 1964 with the tanker "METHAN PRINCESS".

1977, there were 99 LNG tankers in operation worldwide with a total cargo capacity of 10.7 million m³ (4.5 million t). All of these tankers transport LNG at minus 163° C and under atmospheric pressure. They are equipped with double hulls in order to have the greatest possible safety distance between the ship's bottom and the cargo tanks.

Source: ENZYKLOPÄDIE DER MARITIMEN PHILATELIE (NAVICULA)


NAVICULA gives than the vessel on the stamp is the AL RAYYAN, LNG Tanker few info in http://www.gasandoil.com/goc/news/ntm72603.htm

AL RAYYAN on Qatar 1997 3r SG 1012 Only a photo but not any details on the vessel.
http://www.jsc.org.uk/image/annual/photo02.jpg Both URL’s do not more work on my computer.

But below is given that the first vessel was AL ZUBARAH, and she took also the first load from Ras Laffan
It are sisterships I believe of a series of 10 vessels built on diverse yards in Japan.

The history of LNG in Qatar started with the establishment of Qatar Liquefied Gas Company Limited (Qatargas 1) in 1984. In 1996, Qatar received delivery of its first LNG Vessel – AL ZUBARAH. Initially the operations proceeded at a glacial pace, with eight years underway before the first Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) was signed and 12 years for delivery of first LNG cargo. However, by 2010, Qatar established itself as the largest producer of LNG in the world with a capacity to export 77 MMTPA of LNG.

https://www.mechademy.com/lng_plant/qat ... rains-1-3/

Built as a double hulled LNG tanker under yard no 1411 by Mitsui at Chiba, Japan for the Mitsui O.S.K. Lines in Japan.
31 October 1994 laid down.
30 June 1995 launched at the AL ZUBARAH.
10 of this type were built in Japan on diverse shipyards for Japanese owners.
Tonnage 111,079 grt, 33,323 ton nett, 72,557 dwt, dim.297.5 x 45.7 x 25.5m, length bpp. 283.0m.
Powered by one steam turbine, manufactured by Mitsubish Heavy Industries Ltd., Nagasaki, Japan.
Speed 19.5 knots.
01 December 1996 completed, IMO No 9085649, Japanese registry,

2022 Qatargas has bought a fleet of ten steam-turbine LNG carriers (Moss-type) that it had on long-term charter from a consortium of four Japanese shipowners.
2022 Sold to Qatarenergie Marine 1LLC, Doha, Qatar,
2024 In service, under Marshall Island flag and registry.

Source: Miramar, Equasis, and internet,
Qatar 1997 3R sg1012, Scott 896.