US energy company Venture Global LNG announced on 26 June that Samsung Heavy Industries had launched its mega-sized LNG carrier Venture Gator in South Korea.
Venture Gator is the first of nine LNG vessels ordered by Venture Global. They will be delivered in quick succession over the next two years.
They will transport LNG from the United States to multiple global partners and destinations, according to Venture Global.
In March 2022, Hanwha Ocean, then Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering, said in a regulatory filing that a US firm had ordered three LNG carriers at around $100 million.
The shipbuilder did not disclose the identity of the company, but it is now assumed to be Venture Global LN. It is not yet known which company is the third South Korean yard constructing LNG carriers for Venture Global LNG.
“Venture Global is proud to have launched our first ship, Venture Gator at Samsung Heavy Industries in Korea,” Venture Global CEO Mike Sabel said.
“President Biden has committed to increasing LNG supply into Europe and we are pleased to be in a position to continue to support these efforts with a fast-growing shipping fleet, wholly owned, operated, and controlled by Venture Global.”
With the Korean-built ships, he vowed to increase the security of natural gas supply, through low-cost LNG delivered directly to allies across the world.
Photo by lappino/shipspotting.com
