Hudong chooses TMC for QatarEnergy-bound LNG carriers

18 January 2023 – Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding has selected TMC Compressors to deliver the marine compressed air system to seven LNG carriers the shipbuilder is constructing for Japanese shipping major Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL).

Upon completion, all seven vessels will go on charter with QatarEnergy.

“Last year, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding awarded us a similar contract for six newbuild LNG carriers for MOL, destined for charter with CNOOC Gas & Power. To win another large award, this time for seven vessels, is a testament to Hudong and TMC’s joint focus on serial production to keep costs and project execution risk to a minimum,” says Christian Ness, CEO of TMC.

Norway-headquartered TMC, which manufactures marine compressors solely for marine and offshore use, will manufacture the equipment in the Nordic region and ship it to Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding in China.

Under the contract, TMC will supply four control and service air compressors and air driers to each of the seven LNG carriers. The compressors are energy efficient single stage, oil-lubricated marine screw compressor that are designed and manufactured for continuous operation in high ambient temperatures.

The equipment will be installed on board six 174,000-cubic-metres LNG carriers. The vessels will be 299 metres long and 46.4 metres wide.

“MOL Group is implementing comprehensive, ongoing efforts to achieve sustainable net zero greenhouse gas emission and contribute to the realization of a low and decarbonized society. Our compressors are designed to be energy efficient and to allow the vessel crew to conduct maintenance without the support from an external technician. As such, we believe TMC’s compressors are a good fit for MOL’s emission targets,” says Hans Petter Tanum, TMC’s director of sales and business development.

TMC is a global supplier of compressed air systems for marine and offshore use. The company is headquartered in Oslo, Norway.