Asila Jalil

KUALA LUMPUR: MISC Bhd, via subsidiaries Polaris LNG Three Pte Ltd and Polaris LNG Four Pte Ltd, has secured long-term time charter contracts with SeaRiver Maritime LLC for two more liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.

The agreement pushed the total number of contracts with SeaRiver to four LNG carriers.

MISC said through the subsidiaries, it had also signed an agreement with a reputable shipbuilder for the construction of the LNG carriers in South Korea.

These 174,000 cubic metres (cbm) LNG carriers will be chartered by SeaRiver 10 years.

The carriers will be equipped with eco-efficient technologies such as X-DF 2.1 engines with intelligent control by exhaust recycling (iCER) system and air lubrication system which will contribute in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

MISC said global integrated marine services provider Eaglestar Shipmanagement Gas (S) Pte Ltd would be appointed to provide project management services during the shipbuilding phase, and take charge of the operationalisation and ship management of the vessels when they were delivered in 2026.

MISC president and group chief executive officer Datuk Yee Yang Chien said it had consistently stepped up efforts by adopting innovative and responsible practices in its operations to support the maritime industry's decarbonisation goals.

"The range of eco-efficient technologies that will be implemented on these new LNG carriers reflect our continuous commitment towards promoting a greener and more sustainable shipping industry.

In 2019, MISC secured 15-year charter contracts for two LNG carriers from SeaRiver

These vessels are currently under construction in South Korea and are slated for delivery in the first quarter of 2023.