NITC orders six LNG carriers in China

Dalian: Iranian tanker giant NITC has ordered a landmark series of six LNG ships in China. Just like a decade ago when NITC ordered the first ever VLCCs for export from China, this deal, revealed over the weekend, is the first time an overseas firm has signed for gas ships in the People’s Republic.

"Based on estimates, each tanker has been priced between $200mln to $220mln, meaning that for building six tankers initially demanded by Iran from China, we need $1.2bn in credit," Mohammad Souri, President and CEO of NITC, said Sunday. For NITC these are its first gas ships, and mean that Iran could be exporting gas by ship as early as March 2012.

Chinese media suggest NITC has plumped for Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding. SWS has never built LNG ships before. China's only yard versed in this high-tech construction has been Hudong-Zhonghua, also from Shanghai, which has been building a series of six, (including Dapeng Sun, pictured) for a domestic consortium involving Cosco.

Chinese energy majors have signed a series of deals with Iran over the past three years to develop Iranian gas fields. 

(Source:www.seatradeasia-online.com)