Qatar-based energy shipping company Nakilat said Monday it had assumed the technical ship management and operations of the Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) Exquisite from Excelerate.

The FSRU is jointly owned by Nakilat and Excelerate through a joint venture established in 2018. 

This is the first FSRU to be managed in-house by Nakilat, bringing the company's managed fleet to 27 vessels, comprising of 22 LNG, 4 LPG carriers, and 1 FSRU.

The FSRU Exquisite has a cargo-carrying capacity of 150,900 cubic meters and a peak regasification rate of 690 million cubic feet per day. To date, the vessel has received more than 330 cargos of LNG or approximately 21 MMt (million metric tons) since it started operations in 2015. 

The FSRU built in South Korea by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering was delivered in 2009, and has been in service ever since.

Nakilat Chief Executive Officer Eng. Abdullah Al Sulaiti said: “We are immensely proud of this major milestone in successfully transitioning the first-ever FSRU to Nakilat’s in-house shipping management, despite the challenges of the ongoing global pandemic and in conjunction with Qatar National Day. 

Nakilat has been meticulously preparing to take on greater ship management responsibilities over the past years, building capacity and strengthening in-house capabilities in order to grow sustainably and steer our vision forward to become a global leader and provider of choice for energy transportation and maritime services.”

Al Sulaiti added: “The safe completion of the second phase fleet management transition involving 7 LNG carriers, the delivery of a MEGI LNG newbuild, as well as the FSRU Exquisite transition to NSQL-management within less than a year - bears testament to our commitment in maintaining our leadership in energy transportation. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to everyone in making these vessel transitions safe and successful, demonstrating all the hard work and careful preparations by all parties involved.”