Second Custom-Built LNG Carrier Named for PNG LNG Project

Port Moresby:  The second PNG LNG Project custom-built ship was officially named in a ceremony at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai, China on 8 April 2016.
The LNG carrier, named Kumul, was built by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co Ltd and can carry approximately 172,000 cubic metres of LNG. The Kumul, and her sister ship the Papua are the largest LNG ships of their size built in China.

The naming ceremony was attended by the Honorable Ben Micah, Minister for Petroleum and Energy, ExxonMobil executives and PNG LNG co-ventures.

The Kumul will be operated by Mitsui O.S.K Lines and transport gas associated with the PNG LNG Project.  The ship is expected to arrive in Papua New Guinea in late May 2016. The addition of the Kumul, brings to four the number of dedicated carriers that will ship LNG from the PNG LNG Project to customers in Asia. The four ships are Spirit of Hela, Gigira Laitebo, Papua and Kumul.

ExxonMobil congratulated Hudong-Zhonghua for building the LNG carrier for the PNG LNG Project.

ExxonMobil PNG managing director, Andrew Barry said, “We are pleased to be celebrating yet another milestone with the naming of the Kumul, the second of two custom-built ships for the PNG LNG Project. This is a demonstration of the Project’s ongoing success.

“With the support of PNG government and community, we are proud of the reputation the PNG LNG Project has built for being a reliable supplier of LNG since startup two years ago.  The PNG LNG Project is important to the economy of Papua New Guinea and is creating significant, long-term benefits for the country,” he added.

ENDS