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 210,000 m³ and 216,000 m³. Until the entry into service of the Q-Max

Q-Max

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

-type carrier, it is the world largest LNG carrier type with a capacity about 1.5 times that of conventional LNG carriers.

Contractors

The first Q-Flex LNG carrier was delivered by Hyundai Heavy Industries

Hyundai Heavy Industries

Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. is the world's largest shipbuilding company, headquartered in Ulsan, South Korea. The company is a subsidiary of Hyundai Heavy Industries Group...

 in late 2007. The installed re-liquefaction system is developed and delivered by Hamworthy and approved and certified by DNV

Det Norske Veritas

Stiftelsen Det Norske Veritas is a classification society organized as a foundation, with the objective of "Safeguarding life, property, and the environment". The organization's history goes back to 1864, when the foundation was established in Norway to inspect and evaluate the technical condition...

. Q-Flex LNG carriers are built also by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Company and Samsung Heavy Industries

Samsung Heavy Industries

Samsung Heavy Industries or SHI is one of the largest shipbuilders in the world and one of the "Big Three" shipbuilders of South Korea...

.

Ships

As of August 2008 there are 16 named Q-Flex LNG carrier: Al Hamla, Al Gharrafa, Duhail, Al Ghariya, Al Aamriya, Murwab, Fraiha, Al Huwaila, Al Kharsaah, Al Shamal, Al Khuwair, Al Oraiq, Umm Al Amad, Al Thumama, Al Sahla and Al Utouriya. All these vessels are owned by holding companies established by the Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat)

Nakilat

Nakilat is a liquefied natural gas shipping company based in Doha, Qatar.-History:The company was established in 2004 by Qatar's energy and shipping companies and financial institutions...

 and different shipping companies such as Overseas Shipholding Group

Overseas Shipholding Group

Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. is one of the largest oil tanker operating companies in the world. It is based in New York City....

, Pronav and Commerz Real, and they are chartered to Qatar's LNG producers Qatargas

Qatargas

Qatargas is the world's largest liquefied natural gas company. It annually produces and supplies the globe with 42 million metric tons of LNG from across its four ventures . It is headquartered in Doha, Qatar, and maintains its upstream assets in Ras Laffan, Qatar...

 and RasGas

RasGas

RasGas Company Limited is a liquefied natural gas producing company in Qatar. It is the second-biggest LNG producer in the world after Qatargas. RasGas operates seven LNG trains located in Ras Laffan Industrial City.-Operations:...

. In total, contracts have been signed for the construction of 31 Q-Flex vessels.