 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Q-Max |
| Builders | |
| Operators | Shell International Trading and Shipping Company |
| Built | c. 2007–2010 |
| In service | Mozah,[1]Al Mayeda,[2]Mekaines,[3]Al Mafyar,[3]Umm Slal,Bu Samra,[4][5]Al-Ghuwairiya,[4]Lijmiliya,[6]Al Samriya,Al Dafna,Shagra,Zarga,Aamira,[7]Rasheeda[8] |
| Planned | 14 |
| Completed | 14 |
| Canceled | - |
| Active | 14 |
| Lost | - |
| Retired | - |
| Preserved | - |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | LNG carrier |
| Tonnage | 163,000 gross tons |
| Length | 345 m (1,132 ft) |
| Beam | 53.8 m (177 ft) |
| Height | 34.7 m (114 ft) |
| Draft | 12 m (39 ft) |
| Installed power | 21,770 kW at 91 rpm, per engine[9] |
| Propulsion | 2 ×MAN B&W 7S70ME-Ctwo-stroke low speeddiesel burning HFO, electronically controlled[9] |
| Speed | 19 kt |
| Range | 33,600 nm at 16 kt |
| Boats & landing craft carried | 2 x lifeboats, 2 x dinghy boats |
| Capacity | 266,000 m3 (9,400,000 cu ft) |
| Crew | 30 |
Q-Max is a type of ship, specifically a membrane typeLNG carrier. In the name Q-Max, "Q" stands forQatar and "Max" for the maximum size of ship able to dock at theLiquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals in Qatar. Ships of this type are the largest LNG carriers in the world.[1][10]
A ship of Q-Max size is 345 metres (1,132 ft) long and measures 53.8 metres (177 ft) wide and 34.7 metres (114 ft) high, with a draft of approximately 12 metres (39 ft).[10][11]
It has an LNG capacity of 266,000 cubic metres (9,400,000 cu ft), equal to 161,994,000 cubic metres (5.7208×109 cu ft) of natural gas. It is propelled by two slow speed diesel engines burningHFO, which are claimed to be more efficient and environmentally friendly than traditional steam turbines.[12] In case of engine failure, the failed engine can be de-coupled allowing the ship to maintain a speed of 14 knots.[13]
LNG is stored at around -162°C.[14] Q-Max vessels are equipped with an on-board re-liquefaction system to handle the boil-off gas, liquefy it and return the LNG to the cargo tanks.[15] The on-board re-liquefaction system allows a reduction of LNG losses, which produces economic and environmental benefits.
Overall, it is estimated that Q-Max carriers have about 40% lower energy requirements andcarbon emissions than conventional LNG carriers.[16][17] The quoted estimates do however ignore the additional fuel used to re-liquify boil off gas rather than burn the gas for fuel. The ships run onHeavy fuel oil (HFO), but theRasheeda was retrofitted with gas-burning ability in 2015.[18]
The Q-Max LNG carriers were ordered in 2005.[10] They were built bySamsung Heavy Industries andDaewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering.[10][16] The installed Boil Off Gas re-liquefaction system (Ecorel) is developed and delivered by Cryostar, and approved and certified byLloyds Register.[19]
.PNG)
The first Q-Max LNG carrier was floated out of dry-dock in November 2007.[17] The naming ceremony was held on 11 July 2008 atSamsung Heavy Industries' shipyard onGeoje Island,South Korea.[1] Known before its naming ceremony as Hull 1675, the ship was namedMozah bySheikha Mozah Nasser al-Misnad.[20]Mozah was delivered on 29 September 2008.[20][21] It is classed byLloyd's Register.[1] The first trip by a Q-Max tanker was completed byMozah itself on 11 January 2009, when the tanker delivered 266,000 cubic metres of LNG to thePort of Bilbao BBG Terminal. Days before, the vessel had transited theSuez Canal for the first time.[22]
4 Q-Max LNG carriers are operated by the STASCo (Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Ltd, London part ofShell International and 10 by NSQL (Nakilat Shipping Qatar Limited). They are owned byQatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat) and they are chartered to Qatar's LNG producersQatarEnergy LNG.[1] In total, contracts were signed for the construction of 14 Q-Max vessels.[23]
Fourteen sister vessels are in service named: Mozah, Al Mayeda, Mekaines, Al Mafyar, Umm Slal, Bu Samra, Al Ghuwairiya, Lijmiliya, Al Samriya, Al Dafna, Shagra, Zarga, Aamira, and Rasheeda.[24][25] All 14 Q-Max ships were delivered in 2008 through 2010.