Chemistry:Q-Flex

Short description: Liquefied natural gas carrier ship

Class overview
Name:	Q-Flex
Builders:	Hyundai Heavy Industries, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Company, Samsung Heavy Industries
Operators:	Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat)
Built:	2007 – present
In service:	16
Planned:	31
Cancelled:	-
Active:	16
Lost:	-
Retired:	-
Preserved:	-
General characteristics
Type:	LNG carrier
Capacity:	165,000 m3 – 216,000 m3

Q-Flex is a type of ship, specifically a membrane type liquefied natural gas carrier.

Technical description

Q-Flex vessels are propelled by two slow speed diesel engines, which are claimed to be more efficient and environmentally friendly than traditional steam turbines. Q-Flex carriers are equipped with an on-board re-liquefaction system to handle the boil-off gas, liquefy it and return the LNG to the cargo tanks. The on-board re-liquefaction system reduces LNG losses, which produces economic and environmental benefits. Overall, it is estimated that Q-Flex carriers have about 40% lower energy requirements and carbon emissions than conventional LNG carriers.

The capacity of a Q-Flex vessel is between 165,000 m³ and 216,000 m³. Until the entry into service of the Q-Max-type carrier, it was the world's largest LNG carrier type with a capacity of 1.5 times that of conventional LNG carriers.

Contractors

The first Q-Flex LNG carrier was delivered by Hyundai Heavy Industries in late 2007. The installed re-liquefaction system is developed and delivered by Hamworthy and approved and certified by DNV. Q-Flex LNG carriers are built also by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Company and Samsung Heavy Industries.

Ships

As of 2022 there are 31 named Q-Flex LNG carriers in service. All these vessels are owned by holding companies established by the Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat) and different shipping companies such as Pronav, MOL, K-Line, Teekay and NYK and they are chartered to Qatar's LNG producers QatarEnergy LNG.