Daewoo Shipbuilding To Build, Refit LNGs For Exmar

Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co.

has won a $270 million order to build a liquefied natural gas carrier and refit three other LNG carriers for Exmar N.V. of Belgium for delivery by 2005. The vessels are capable of carrying 4.83-million cu. ft. of liquefied natural gas each and will be chartered to Houston, Texas-based El Paso Global LNG for positioning in the Gulf of Mexico and along the U.S. East Coast. It has also been confirmed that the trio of LNG carriers will be modified into EP Energy Bridge Vessels, which can regasify and deliver a minimum of 400 million cu. ft. of natural gas/day. An EP Energy Bridge ship connects to a pipeline infrastructure through an offshore buoy and turret system that has been used worldwide, including approximately 10 years of service in the harsh North Sea. In order to achieve a continuous flow of natural gas, a typical EP Energy Bridge system will have two offloading buoys to ensure uninterrupted delivery. In addition, the offshore systems will provide a cost-effective solution to serve seasonal or peaking loads, and small- to medium-size markets where natural gas delivery has been unavailable.

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