NYK, GAS SHIPPER SIGN LNG CONTRACT

NYK, GAS SHIPPER SIGN LNG CONTRACT    The Japanese shipping group Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha and Osaka Gas International Transport Inc. have agreed to terms for a new shipbuilding contract for a 145,000-cubic-meter liquefied natural gas carrier.
   The vessel, to be built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., will be jointly owned by the two companies. It will serve mainly the North West Shelf expansion project in western Australia.
   The ship will enter service in September 2006 and its operation will be managed by NYK.
   Osaka Gas International Transport now owns a total of three LNG vessels, two for the “Badak IV” LNG project in Indonesia, together with NYK, MOL, “K” Line, Iino Kaiun, and shipping subsidiaries of Tokyo Gas and Toho Gas, and one for the Oman LNG project, together with NYK, MOL and “K” Line.