[Safety4sea/ May 29, 2025] Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat) has marked a major milestone with the steel cutting ceremony for seventeen new LNG vessels at Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) Shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea.

These vessels, each with a capacity of 174,000 cubic meters, are part of QatarEnergy’s extensive LNG fleet expansion project, aimed at meeting future LNG transportation needs and replacing older ships. The vessels will be owned by Nakilat and chartered to QatarEnergy affiliates under long-term agreements.

The ceremony was attended by senior representatives from Nakilat, HHI, and the maritime sector, signaling the formal start of construction. Nakilat CEO Abdullah Al-Sulaiti emphasized that the project supports the company’s long-term growth strategy and reinforces its role in Qatar’s LNG vision by setting new benchmarks in efficiency, safety, and sustainability.

In 2024, Nakilat signed agreements with QatarEnergy to lease and operate 25 advanced LNG vessels, further consolidating its global leadership in LNG shipping.