Qatargas has completed the first-ever commercial ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of an LNG cargo involving a Q-Flex LNG vessel, it said on January 12. The operation took place at Subic Bay, Philippines. 

A full cargo of 212,000 m³ aboard the vessel Mesaimeer was loaded at Ras Laffan Port on December 18 and delivered as two separate parcel discharges. One parcel was delivered as the STS transfer in Subic Bay on January 6 and the second parcel was delivered to Jiangsu LNG terminal in China, Qatargas said. Both sales were made to PetroChina. 

“This achievement will enable us to transport considerable volumes as efficiently as possible into key markets,” Qatargas CEO Khalid bin Khalifa Al Thani, said. “Moreover, this will be an attractive option for our potential customers with limited shipping capacity and for those who are looking for smaller or irregular sized cargo parcels." 

Mesaimeer is on a long-term charter to Qatargas and operated by Nakilat Shipping. 

Banner image courtesy Qatargas