Japanese LNG vessels to register with IRI

Tokyo: Eight Japanese-owned LNG vessels under construction at Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering's Okpo shipyard for use in the Qatar gas field are to register with the Marshall Islands Maritime and Corporate Administrator, International Registries, Inc. (IRI).

The AL AAMRIYA, a 135,100 gross ton gas carrier is the first of the vessels scheduled for delivery and will register this month. The remaining seven vessel are scheduled for delivery over the next two years and IRI anticipates a total of 40 Qatar LNG vessels to join its books over the next four years. The registry has closed the first quarter of 2008 with a fleet of more than 1700 registered vessels of about 39.5m gt collectively.

"We are one of only three flags invited to register the Qatar LNG vessels," said Bill Gallagher, IRI president. "Our fleet includes vessels managed and owned by some of the world's leading tanker operators and we have a long history in working in this dynamic sector."
 
IRI, which traces its origins to 1948 and is celebrating its 60th anniversary, has maintained its white list status with the Paris and Tokyo MoUs and its Qualship 21 listing with the USCG for the three years in a row.  [08/04/08]