MISC Names First LNG Carrier in QatarEnergy Charter Deal

MISC, a Malaysian shipping giant, has named its first of three new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, the Th’ailib, in a ceremony held at Samsung Heavy Industries’ shipyard in South Korea on October 6. The vessel, with a capacity of 174,000 cubic meters, is the first of three newbuilds secured under 15-year time-charter agreements with QatarEnergy, set to begin in 2026.

The Th’ailib is equipped with advanced features, including dual-fuel engines, a reliquefaction system, an air lubrication system, and high-performance anti-fouling hull coating. The charter agreements with QatarEnergy were signed on March 31, 2024, with all three vessels built by Samsung Heavy Industries.

The newbuilds will support QatarEnergy’s LNG transportation needs, primarily from the North Field in Qatar and Golden Pass in the US, as well as long-term fleet replacement requirements. These vessels are part of MISC’s participation in the second phase of QatarEnergy’s fleet programme, following an earlier consortium arrangement covering 12 LNG carriers.

As of December 2024, QatarEnergy’s broader fleet expansion programme included 104 conventional LNG carriers and 24 larger QC-Max vessels, with six QC-Max vessels forming the final batch.