Hoegh Takes Delivery of FSRU, Chile Not Ready
Norway-based shipowner Hoegh LNG Holdings said April 5 it took delivery that day of its eighth floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), or floating LNG import terminal.
Hoegh Esperanza was built at Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea. It has a LNG storage capacity of 170,000 m3, maximum regasification throughput of 750mn ft3/d (7.75bn m3/yr), and is equipped with a GTT Mark III membrane containment system and dual-fuel diesel-electric (DFDE) propulsion.
Hoegh LNG is currently in advanced negotiations for the intermediate employment of Hoegh Esperanza on a contract that would see it used as a FSRU and LNG tanker (with seasonal use in FSRU mode) but did not say with whom or where. This would extend until the vessel's anticipated start date on its intended long-term FSRU contract in Chile, it added.
In full year results on February 28, Hoegh said that its FSRU project in Chile, due to have started up by mid-2018, was delayed by government permitting. It said in November 2017 that it was to provide the FSRU to Chile's Penco LNG project but acknowledged that uncertainties remained over the timeline.
Chile already has two LNG import terminals, Quintero and Mejillones which opened in 2009 and 2010 respectively. (Banner photo above shows the FSRU Hoegh Giant, while that below shows the new FSRU Hoegh Esperenza, both are courtesy of Hoegh LNG)
