Qatargas Operating Company Limited has completed the first-ever commercial ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo involving a Q-Flex LNG vessel. The transfer took place at Subic Bay in the Philippines.

A full cargo of 212,000 cubic metres aboard the Qatargas-chartered Q-Flex vessel ‘Mesaimeer’ was loaded at Ras Laffan Port on 18 December 2020 and delivered as two separate parcel discharges.

One parcel was delivered as the ship-to-ship transfer in Subic Bay on 6 January 2021 and the second parcel as a delivery to Jiangsu LNG terminal, China. Both sales were made to PetroChina as the customer.

Khalid bin Khalifa Al Thani, Qatargas’ Chief Executive Officer, said it is the first time that one of the largest LNG vessels, a Q-Flex, is involved in a commercial STS operation.

“This achievement will enable us to transport considerable volumes as efficiently as possible into key markets. Moreover, this will be an attractive option for our potential customers with limited shipping capacity and for those who are looking for smaller or irregular sized cargo parcels,” he commented.

“STS transfers such as this one will optimise our shipping capabilities by using our most efficient LNG vessels to shift volumes into key high-value markets.”

The LNG vessel, ‘Mesaimeer’, is on a long-term charter to Qatargas and operated by NSQL – Nakilat Shipping (Qatar) Limited.