The year 2011 saw Ras Laffan Port achieve a new milestone on 28th December 2011 when the 1,000th LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) tanker, RasGas Simaisma docked at the port.
Arabic dhow presented
To mark the occasion, a ceremony was held in Ras Laffan Port with senior representatives from RasGas, Qatargas, Nakilat and Qatar Petroleum.
Ras Laffan Industrial City (RLC) Acting Director, Capt. Feisal Saad presented a commemorative traditional Arabic dhow to the "Simaisma" ship master Capt. Apanomeritakis Georgios.
Half million cu/m of LNG
The RasGas tanker bound for Europe is being loaded simultaneously with the 999th, 1001th & 1002th LNG tankers and they will in total take on board approximately just over half million cu/m of LNG.
The vessel was able to load an LNG cargo of 146,000 cu/m. It is owned by a joint venture of Nakilat & Maran Gas Maritime and is on long term charter to RasGas.
Exceptional efficiency
A record number of LNG tankers have loaded in the Year 2011 in Ras Laffan Port. Capt. Saad said, "Designed as a world-class facility, RLC industries and the Port have so far demonstrated exceptional efficiency. The lifting of the 1,000th LNG tanker is a remarkable milestone that winds up an outstanding year of steady and efficient operations of RLC."
RasGas operates seven LNG trains with a total LNG production capacity of 37mn tonnes per annum. The Qatargas 7th LNG train was commissioned in late 2010 and Qatargas now has production capacity of 42mn tonnes per annum.
