Middle East producer QatarEnergy has firmed up at least four of its reserved LNG carrier berths at Hyundai Heavy Industries and is close to confirming several more.
Those watching the huge shipbuilding project closely, for which over 150 berths have been earmarked, said they understand a marker has now been put on the HHI quartet, with another two berths at the yard expected to be declared in the near future.
They said QatarEnergy is also expected to declare on another pair of its reserved berths at Samsung Heavy Industries and more at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering shortly.
To date at South Korean yards, QatarEnergy has officially said it has signed up to four of its reserved LNG carrier newbuilding berths at DSME and two at SHI.
TradeWinds has learned that DSME's four are for delivery dates in 2024 with SHI's for handover dates in 2025.
But QatarEnergy has yet to make any announcement on HHI or further additions at DSME and SHI.
In China, the expanding LNG producer has so far agreed on four out of 20 reserved berths at China's Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group).
Shipbuilding sources stressed that QatarEnergy has yet to ink any of the contracts on these long-planned LNG newbuildings.
The company is anticipated to do this once it selects the shipowners it wants to order the vessels, at which point newbuilding and time-charter contracts will likely be signed at the same time.
Sources said QatarEnergy, which has deployed Qatargas to handle the tender process, now has "all the information" from owners.
They indicated that the company is keen to push ahead with the newbuildings at a speedier pace now.
There is interest in QatarEnergy's intentions on its mega project. The bullish market prospects for LNG shipping have driven a fresh wave of independent shipowners to the yards for berths, along with others looking at fleet replacement.
But delays to the Qatari project have pushed the reserved berths into 2025 delivery positions, leaving owners with the prospect of looking at dates in 2026 and beyond.
Qatar needs the LNG carrier tonnage for its North Field expansion project, shipments from its Golden Pass LNG liftings in the US and fleet renewal needs.
| Shipbuilder | No. of berths officially declared |
| Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering | 4 |
| Hyundai Heavy Industries | 0 |
| Samsung Heavy Industries | 2 |
| Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) | 4 |
| Total* | 10 |
