K Line names ninth QatarEnergy LNG carrier as fleet expansion advances

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Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, known as K Line, has named a 174,000 cubic metre liquefied natural gas carrier that will operate for QatarEnergy, advancing a 12 vessel newbuilding programme designed to support Qatar’s expanding LNG exports.

The vessel, named HALWAN, was formally named on July 14 at the shipyard of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea. Its delivery is provisionally scheduled for July 2026.

HALWAN is the ninth vessel in the series of 12 LNG carriers being built for QatarEnergy through a joint venture involving K Line, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, China LNG Shipping Holdings and MISC Berhad. MISC is participating through its wholly owned subsidiary Portovenere and Lerici Labuan Pte Ltd.

The vessel is the second of three ships in the programme that will be managed by the K Line group.

Once delivered, QatarEnergy intends to deploy HALWAN in the international transport of LNG. The vessel will therefore become part of the shipping capacity supporting the company’s global supply operations as Qatar increases its gas production and export infrastructure.

The addition of each vessel is one part of a much larger logistics chain. LNG production capacity cannot reach international buyers without sufficient specialised shipping capacity, just as a larger factory cannot increase deliveries without adding trucks, rail capacity or warehouse space.

HALWAN measures approximately 299 metres in length and has a beam of 46.4 metres. The vessel uses a membrane containment system with capacity for 174,000 cubic metres of LNG and has a planned service speed of 19.5 knots.

The new carrier is equipped with a low pressure, dual fuel X DF 2.1 engine incorporating Intelligent Control by Exhaust Recycling technology, commonly known as iCER.

The propulsion system can operate using LNG supplied at low pressure. Its exhaust recycling technology is designed to improve combustion control and reduce methane emissions from the engine, addressing one of the environmental issues associated with LNG fuel.

HALWAN is also fitted with an Air Lubrication System. The technology releases air bubbles beneath the hull, creating a layer between the vessel and the surrounding seawater. This reduces frictional resistance while the ship is moving and can lower the amount of fuel required during operations.

For a vessel travelling regularly between production terminals and markets thousands of nautical miles away, even relatively small efficiency improvements can affect annual fuel consumption and emissions.

K Line said the combination of the propulsion technology and air lubrication equipment would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the vessel’s wider environmental impact by lowering operational fuel consumption.

The naming follows earlier additions to the joint venture’s QatarEnergy fleet.

K Line entered long term charter agreements connected with seven new LNG vessels in August 2022 and another five vessels in November 2022. The company subsequently announced the naming of AL TUWAR in April 2025 and the vessels SHARQ and SHAR’OUH in December 2025.

HALWAN takes its name from a source of water in Qatar, continuing the use of names connected with the country’s geography and heritage.

QatarEnergy is responsible for Qatar’s state energy operations and is developing additional LNG production capacity under its North Field expansion programme. The shipping newbuildings will provide the transport capacity required to move additional volumes from Qatar to customers across Asia, Europe and other markets.

LNG carriers are among the most technically specialised commercial vessels. Their cargo must be maintained at approximately minus 162 degrees Celsius so that natural gas remains in liquid form during transport. This allows large quantities of gas to be carried across oceans to markets that cannot be reached directly by pipeline.

K Line identified LNG shipping as a priority investment area in the medium term management plan it published in May 2022.

The Japanese shipping group has been seeking to expand its portfolio of long term LNG contracts as energy producers secure vessels for new export projects and buyers seek stable supply arrangements.

Long term charter contracts can give shipowners predictable employment for specialised vessels while providing energy companies with access to dedicated transport capacity. They also reduce exposure to short term fluctuations in the charter market, although shipowners remain responsible for operating performance, crewing and technical management.

K Line said it would continue developing its LNG business in response to customer requirements and growing energy demand. HALWAN is expected to enter service following its planned delivery from HD Hyundai Heavy Industries later in July.