Hyundai LNG Shipping signs fleet repair deal with Seatrium

South Korea’s LNG carrier operator Hyundai LNG Shipping has signed a Favoured Customer Contract (FCC), otherwise known as a fleet repair deal, with Singapore’s ship repair giant Seatrium. The FCC calls for the repair, upgrading and maintenance of Hyundai’s LNG carrier fleet over the next two years, with responsibilities in joint planning, information and experience sharing between the shipyard and the owner.

The first vessel to be repaired under this new agreement, the 127,244m³ capacity Hyundai Utopia, arrived at Seatrium’s Admiralty yard, in Sembawang, on May 13th. This 1994-built LNG carrier is of the Moss-type and is steam turbine-powered.

The FCC will see both parties jointly working towards achieving sustainable targets in the areas of Quality, Health, Safety & Environment (QHSE), cost efficiency and timely deliveries, which are key performance indicators for high-quality LNG carrier refits and maintenance.

Seatrium is the world leader in LNG carrier repair and upgrade work, including holding an extensive track record of 11 FSRU conversions since 2007. In addition, Seatrium converted the world’s first Floating Liquefaction vessel (FLNG) in 2017, the Golar Hilli, which is operating with a 100% uptime, in Cameroon, West Africa.

Hyundai LNG Shipping currently operates a fleet of eight LNG carriers – six Moss-type vessels and two Membrane-type tankers.

Meanwhile, on May 17th Seatrium’s Admiralty yard was repairing a further two LNG carriers:

• British Sponsor – 173,400m³ capacity 2019-built, owned by Natural Gas Ocean Transportation Investment and operated by BP Shipping, London
• Seapeak Magellan – 165,500m³ capacity, 2009-built, owned by Seapeak Maritime (Canada) Ltd

Also at this yard on the same date was the US Navy’s Safeguard-class 3,200gt 1986-built salvage tug/rescue vessel USNS Salvor (T-ARS-53).

Meanwhile, undergoing repair at Seatrium’s Tuas Boulevard yard on May 17th were the following vessels:

• Pacific Zonda – 61,184gt 2020-built drillship, owned by US-based Pacific Drilling Services, Houston, Texas
• Asian Hercules III – 24,347dwt 2015-built crane ship, owned by Singapore’s Asian Lift
• Queen of the Netherlands – 35,500m³ capacity 1998-built TSHD, owned by Holland’s Boskalis Westminster Dredging, Papendrecht
• West Polaris – 61,439dwt 2008-built drillship, owned by Norway’s Seadrill Atlantic, Stavanger
• RFA Argus (A135) – 26,845gt 1981-built primary casualty receiving vessel (hospital ship), owned by the UK’s Ministry of Defence and operated by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA)
• FPSO Bacalhau – 329,600dwt 2023-built FPSO, owned by Japan’s MODEC. Hull built by China’s Dalian Shipbuilding, undergoing topside installation in Singapore before deploying to operate offshore Brazil
• HL Ras Laffan – 135,450m³ capacity 2000-built LNG carrier, owned by South Korea’s Hanjin Shipping, Seoul