NLNG sustains growth agenda with designated vessels

The Nigeria Liquefied and Natural Gas (NLNG) has continued to push up shipping operations inline with its strategic agenda and mission statements.

Already, NLNG boast of a line-up of twenty-three vessels utilized through an integrated scheduling point.

According to NLNG, the twenty-three vessels load at its Terminal in Bonny, Nigeria, for ex-ship deliveries to buyers in Middle & Far East, Asia, Europe, South America and Gulf of Mexico (GOM) including ports in Mexico and the United States.

Besides, LPG vessel, according to NLNG is utilized for LPG delivery in the Nigerian market.

In the current edition of its “Facts and Figures”, unveiled in Lagos recently, NLNG explained that in addition to traditional deliveries to Europe and the United States, the company also supplies to South America, with deliveries to Mexico and Brazil, Asia and the Middle East, with deliveries to Japan, South Korea, India, China, Taiwan, Thailand and Kuwait.

Making reference to its Ship Management Knowledge Transfer Project (SMKTP), NLNG said the project was successfully completed in 2014.

NLNG said: “The project achieved milestones which included the birth of NLNG Ship Management Services (NLNGSS), a ship management department in NLNG, and the consequent phased take-over of the management of BGT vessels by NLNGSS, which has since been integrated with NLNG Ship Management Limited (NSML)”.

According to the firm, with the SMKTP milestones now all successfully attained, NLNG continues to increase ship management capacity through continuous training and development.

Meanwhile, NLNG explained that following an Economic Replacement Assessment (ERA) study on the older BGT vessels, Board approved a fleet renewal and optimization programme.
Specifically, NLNG said BGT has taken delivery of two out of the six Dual Fuel Diesel Engine (DFDE) LNG carriers built in South Korea under the BGT Plus Project, adding that four of the vessels will replace six older vessels while two are aimed at fleet optimization to meet NLNG’s appetite for more tonnage.

Speaking at a Ship naming ceremony in South Korea, the Managing Director of NLNG Limited, Babs Omotowa, restated the company’s resolved to provide training support for young Nigerians and also give local firms the opportunity to participate in Ship design and construction in line with local content requirements.

The Bonny Gas Transport (BGT), a subsidiary of NLNG had in 2013 placed order for six new Dual Fuel Diesel Electric  (DFDE) LNG Vessels.

Constructed by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), the new Vessels are expected to boost NLNG operations.

Omotowa described regular training as a key component of the company’s vision, noting, “For the first time, some Nigerian companies have participated in the construction of our vessels.

According to Omotowa, the companies involved are Nexans KabelMetal, Berger Paints, Paints and Coating Manufacturing Nigeria and Metec West Africa, “Supplying cables, paints and anodes valued at over $10million”.