Q-Max is a type of ship, specifically a membrane type
LNG carrier
An LNG carrier is a tank ship designed for transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG).
History
The first LNG carrier ''Methane Pioneer'' () carrying , classed by Bureau Veritas, left the Calcasieu River on the Louisiana Gulf coast on 25 January ...
. In the name Q-Max, "Q" stands for
Qatar
Qatar (, ; ar, قطر, Qaṭar ; local vernacular pronunciation: ), officially the State of Qatar,) is a country in Western Asia. It occupies the Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East; it sh ...
and "Max" for the maximum size of ship able to dock at the
Liquefied natural gas
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is natural gas (predominantly methane, CH4, with some mixture of ethane, C2H6) that has been cooled down to liquid form for ease and safety of non-pressurized storage or transport. It takes up about 1/600th the volu ...
(LNG) terminals in Qatar. Ships of this type are the largest LNG carriers in the world.
[
]
Technical description
A ship of Q-Max size is long and measures wide and high, with a draft of approximately .
[
It has an LNG capacity of , equal to of natural gas. It is propelled by two slow speed diesel engines burning HFO, which are claimed to be more efficient and environmentally friendly than traditional steam turbines.] In case of engine failure, the failed engine can be de-coupled allowing the ship to maintain a speed of 14 knots.
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. 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 and carbon emission
Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities strengthen the greenhouse effect, contributing to climate change. Most is carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels: coal, oil, and natural gas. The largest emitters include coal in China and larg ...
s than conventional LNG carriers.[
] 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 on Heavy fuel oil (HFO), but the ''Rasheeda'' was retrofitted with gas-burning ability in 2015.
Contractors
The Q-Max LNG carriers were ordered in 2005.[ They were built by ]Samsung Heavy Industries
Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (Korean: 삼성중공업) is one of the largest shipbuilders in the world and one of the "Big Three" shipbuilders of South Korea (including Hyundai and Daewoo). Geoje (in Gyeongsangnam-do) is one of the largest ...
and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering
Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd ( ko, 대우조선해양; abbreviated DSME) is one of the "Big Three" shipbuilders of South Korea, along with Hyundai and Samsung.
History
On 21 February 2011, the A. P. Moller-Maersk Group (Ma ...
. The installed Boil Off Gas re-liquefaction system (Ecorel) is developed and delivered by Cryostar, and approved and certified by Lloyds Register
Lloyd's Register Group Limited (LR) is a technical and professional services organisation and a maritime classification society, wholly owned by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a UK charity dedicated to research and education in science and ...
.[
]
Ships
The first Q-Max LNG carrier was floated out of dry-dock in November 2007. The naming ceremony was held on 11 July 2008 at Samsung Heavy Industries
Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (Korean: 삼성중공업) is one of the largest shipbuilders in the world and one of the "Big Three" shipbuilders of South Korea (including Hyundai and Daewoo). Geoje (in Gyeongsangnam-do) is one of the largest ...
' shipyard on Geoje Island
Geojedo or Geoje Island (also McCune–Reischauer: Kŏje Island) is the principal island of Geoje City, on the southern coast of Gyeongsangnam-do province, South Korea. It is joined to land by two bridges from nearby Tongyeong. Gohyeon is the ...
, South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...
. Known before its naming ceremony as Hull 1675, the ship was named ''Mozah
''Mozah'' is a Q-Max LNG carrier operated by Qatargas II. The vessel was built in 2008 by Samsung Heavy Industries and is the largest LNG carrier in the world together with her sister ships. The vessel is part of a contract for 14 same-size shi ...
'' by Sheikha Mozah Nasser al-Misnad.[
] ''Mozah'' was delivered on 29 September 2008.[
] It is classed by Lloyd's Register
Lloyd's Register Group Limited (LR) is a technical and professional services organisation and a maritime classification society, wholly owned by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a UK charity dedicated to research and education in science and ...
. The first trip by a Q-Max tanker was completed by ''Mozah
''Mozah'' is a Q-Max LNG carrier operated by Qatargas II. The vessel was built in 2008 by Samsung Heavy Industries and is the largest LNG carrier in the world together with her sister ships. The vessel is part of a contract for 14 same-size shi ...
'' itself on 11 January 2009, when the tanker delivered 266,000 cubic metres of LNG to the Port of Bilbao
The Port of Bilbao is located on the Bilbao Abra bay, and along the Estuary of Bilbao, in Biscay ( Basque Country). The main facilities are in the Santurtzi and Zierbena municipalities, approximately 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Bilbao. Also ...
BBG Terminal. Days before, the vessel had transited the Suez Canal
The Suez Canal ( arz, قَنَاةُ ٱلسُّوَيْسِ, ') is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea through the Isthmus of Suez and dividing Africa and Asia. The long canal is a popular ...
for the first time.
4 Q-Max LNG carriers are operated by the STASCo (Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Ltd, London part of Shell International
Shell plc is a British multinational oil and gas company headquartered in London, England. Shell is a public limited company with a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and secondary listings on Euronext Amsterdam and the New Yo ...
and 10 by NSQL (Nakilat Shipping Qatar Limited). They are owned by Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat) and they are chartered to Qatar's LNG producers Qatargas
Qatargas is the world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) company. It produces and supplies the globe with 77 million metric tonnes of LNG annually from across its seven ventures—Qatargas 1, Qatargas 2, Qatargas 3, Qatargas 4, RL1, RL2 a ...
. In total, contracts were signed for the construction of 14 Q-Max vessels.
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.NAKILAT, Our World-Class Fleet List (see Q-Max)
/ref> All 14 Q-Max ships were delivered in 2008 through 2010.
See also
* Q-Flex
Q-Flex is a type of ship, specifically a membrane type liquefied natural gas carrier.
Technical description
Q-Flex vessels are propelled by two slow speed diesel engines, which are claimed to be more efficient and environmentally friendly than t ...
* Ras Laffan Industrial City
Ras Laffan Industrial City ( ar, راس لفان, Ra’s Lafān) is an industrial hub located north of Doha, Qatar. It is administrated by QatarEnergy.
Ras Laffan Industrial City is Qatar's main site for production of liquefied natural gas and ...
References
External links
Tanker ships
Ship sizes
{{Ship measurements
LNG tankers
Ship measurements