Nakilat has commenced the second phase of its fleet management transition from Shell International Trading and Shipping Company (Shell) with Q-Max LNG (liquefied natural gas) carrier ‘Al Mayeda’ being the first vessel transitioned as part of several vessels phased management changeover pact.

"This will see us expanding our ship management capabilities and become a strong, fully-fledged shipping and maritime company. The management of our vessels centrally from Qatar will allow Nakilat to capitalise on existing synergies with our main charterer, realize operational efficiencies and optimise costs," said Nakilat chief executive Abdullah Fadhalah al-Sulaiti.

The technical management of ‘Al Mayeda’ will be undertaken by Nakilat’s in-house ship management arm, Nakilat Shipping Qatar (NSQL), bringing NSQL’s managed fleet size by the end of the current year to 25 vessels once the transition is completed (21 LNG and four liquefied petroleum gas or LPG carriers).

Wholly-owned by Nakilat and chartered by Qatargas, ‘Al Mayeda’ is a Q-Max LNG carrier with a cargo carrying capacity of 266,000 cubic metres. It has completed 88 voyages, covering almost 1.11mn nautical miles, since it was delivered in February 2009.

Despite the ongoing challenges of the global pandemic, Nakilat continued to uphold operational excellence in the management of its LNG and LPG vessels and ensured no disruption to its business, demonstrating it strong commitment to safely, reliably and efficiently provide shipping and maritime services.

Nakilat's recent business activities regarding ship management within a short period of time have not only contributed to the overall fleet growth, but also strengthened the position as a global leader and provider of choice for energy transportation and maritime services.

The company's success in commencing the second phase of fleet management transition will contribute in laying a solid foundation for an integrated maritime industry in Qatar, in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030 for economic growth.

"With a decade of experience managing LNG and LPG carriers, we are committed to upholding the highest standards of safety and quality to ensure the integrity of cargo from Qatar to the rest of the world, as evidenced from the lost time incident-free year achieved by the NSQL-managed fleet in 2019," al-Sulaiti said.

In 2017, Nakilat successfully transitioned 10 vessels to in-house management, achieving excellent results in safety and operational performance, better than the industry average in the global shipping sector.


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