Tokyo Gas Names Carrier for US Imports
Japanese shipowner Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) said a naming ceremony was held October 16 for newly built LNG carrier, Energy Liberty.
The new ship, with LNG cargo capacity of 165,000 m3, is jointly owned by MOL and a subsidiary of Tokyo LNG.
Energy Liberty will be the eighth LNG carrier owned and managed by Tokyo LNG Tanker Company. MOL will directly manage six of those vessels, including this newbuild. MOL said the ship's naming event was held at the Tsu Shipyard of Japan Marine United Corporation.
After delivery, the vessel will transport LNG produced from shale gas, shipped from the Cove Point Project on the US east coast to Tokyo Gas.
The Dominion Energy-led Cove Point liquefaction project will supply ST Cove Point, a joint venture of Japan's Sumitomo and Tokyo Gas, and separately India's Gail. When completed in late 2017, Cove Point is expected to produce some 5.25mn metric tons of LNG annually for the two customers. Construction of its liquefaction facility began in October 2014. Dominion said 2015 it expects the project to cost between $3.4bn and $3.8bn. Analysts expect the venture to become the second US LNG export venture of modern times, after Cheniere's Sabine Pass, to begin exports.
Mark Smedley