MISC names first LNG carrier under QatarEnergy charter
MISC, a global shipping giant, has named its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier under a new charter agreement with QatarEnergy. The vessel, Th’ailib, was officially christened at Samsung Heavy Industries’ shipyard in South Korea on October 6, 2026. Th’ailib is the first of three newbuilds secured by MISC under 15-year time-charter agreements with QatarEnergy, with the charter period set to begin in 2026.
The 174,000-cubic-metre LNG carrier is equipped with advanced features, including dual-fuel engines, a reliquefaction system, an air lubrication system, and a high-performance anti-fouling hull coating. The ship is designed to support QatarEnergy’s LNG transportation needs, primarily from the North Field in Qatar and the Golden Pass in the US, as well as long-term fleet replacement requirements.
MISC signed the time-charter parties with QatarEnergy on March 31, 2024. All three newbuilds, each with a capacity of 174,000 cubic metres, were contracted with Samsung Heavy Industries. The three newbuilds are part of MISC’s participation in the second phase of QatarEnergy’s fleet programme, following a first-phase 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. The three newbuilds add to MISC’s growing involvement in QatarEnergy’s LNG transportation infrastructure.