Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat), one of the world's largest shippers of liquefied natural gas (LNG), said it has assumed full ship management and operations of Q-Max LNG carrier Umm Slal from StasCo (Shell Trading and Shipping Company).

Q-Max is a type of ship, specifically a membrane type liquefied natural gas carrier. In that Q stands for Qatar and "Max" for the maximum size of the ship that is able to dock at the LNG terminals in the country.

The Nakilat move comes as part of the planned and phased transition announced by the Qatari company on October 19.  

With a cargo carrying capacity of 265,978 cu m, Umm Slal is wholly-owned by Nakilat and chartered by Qatargas, said a statement from the company.
 
The vessel built in South Korea by Samsung Heavy Industries was delivered in November 2008 and has been in service ever since, it stated.

Umm Slal is the third Q-Max vessel that will come under the management of Nakilat Shipping Qatar (NSQL) this year, bringing the total number of vessels managed by NSQL to 11, comprising seven LNG and 4 LPG carriers.-TradeArabia News Service