Adnoc Logistics & Services signed an agreement to build two liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels at China’s Jiangnan Shipyard, in line with the company’s strategy to expand its shipping fleet to meet the surging global demand for LNG. The new vessels scheduled to join Adnoc’s fleet in 2025 will be “crucial enablers of Adnoc’s 2030 growth strategy,” the company stated, stressing that the fleet expansion will further boost its LNG business and grow its production capacity. Over recent years, the company acquired 16 deep-sea vessels, including eight large crude carriers in 2021, bringing its overall capacity to 16 million barrels. Moreover, the company acquired six product tankers, expanding its fleet capacity to over 1 million metric tonnes as well as five large gas carriers for its joint venture with China’s Wanhua Chemical Group, AW Shipping.
The new vessels feature nearly 175,000 cubic metres of capacity each, compared to the company’s current fleet offering 137,000 cubic metres of capacity for each vessel. According to the company, the acquisition of larger, more energy-efficient vessels will allow Adnoc L&S to meet the growing customer demand while improving the environmental footprint of its fleet. The company operates a varied fleet of 44 vessels comprising LNG carriers, very large gas carriers, multi-gas carriers, very large crude carriers, long-range I and long-range II tankers, specialised molten sulphur carriers, feeder vessels and dry bulk vessels.