Qatargas-chartered vessels carry out the first ship-to-ship LNG transfer

Qatargas-chartered LNG vessels carried out the first ship-to-ship (STS) transfer operation of liquefied natural gas between two Q-Flex type ships following an incident that involved one of them while transiting the Singapore straits. While there were no reported injuries to personnel or impact on the environment, the incident did result in minor damage to the vessel, Qatargas said yesterday. The transfer of 211,000 cu m LNG was conducted at anchor in open waters in Singapore utilising specialised equipment and a contractor with LNG STS expertise. The operation was held in the last week of January. “In line with our strong commitment to total customer satisfaction, various scenarios options were considered and the STS operation was identified by Qatargas as a key element to ensuring that Qatargas commitments and obligations to their valued customers were met. This was only achievable through the collective and collaborative effort of all parties involved in the operation, and with the co-operation and support of Qatargas’ customers,” Qatargas said. The completion of the STS operation reinforces Qatargas’ position as the world’s largest producer and reliable supplier of LNG, Qatargas said.