Croatian Childhood Friends Steer Historic Gas Transshipment in Egypt

Two childhood friends from Kaštel, Croatia, Berislav Carev and Dejan Ljubić, made history in Egypt when they commanded a complex ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) at the port of Ain Sokhna on September 23, 2026.

The operation marked the 74th STS transshipment completed by the FSRU Energos Power since it began operations in July 2025. The terminal has developed into a driving force for regional energy security, with precise vessel management and elite maritime management playing key roles.

Carev and Ljubić have been friends since childhood, growing up as neighbors in Kaštel. Their fathers were both marine engineers, and they followed in their footsteps by building careers at sea, eventually becoming captains of massive gas tankers.

The STS operation required exceptional precision to safely transfer thousands of cubic meters of LNG at -160°C. The two friends had not seen each other for over 20 years but shared a deep understanding of the intricacies involved in such operations, thanks to their joint training within Northern Marine Management.