Knutsen, Shell name ninth LNG newbuild

Norwegian shipowner Knutsen and UK-based energy giant Shell have named the ninth and final LNG carrier in a series of 174,000-cbm vessels.

Knutsen announced via social media on Tuesday that the naming ceremony for Zoe Knutsen took place at South Korea’s HD Hyundai Samho on June 25.

Moreover, the ceremony marks the “culmination of a significant and successful collaboration,” which included the construction of nine LNG carriers.

Knusten noted the series began with Santander Knutsen, delivered in June 2022, and has since grown into a fleet of LNG carriers.

“Zoe Knutsen is scheduled for delivery in September 2025 and will go straight into service under charter with Shell, operating as part of their global LNG fleet,” Knutsen said.

In November 2023, Knutsen took delivery of the 174,000-cbm, Paris Knutsen, from Hyundai Samho.

Knutsen said at the time that Paris Knutsen was the seventh vessel in the Shell series.

In August last year, the naming ceremony for the 174,000-cbm Nantes Knutsen took place at HD Hyundai Samho’s yard in Mokpo.

Knutsen, Shell name ninth LNG newbuild
Image: Knutsen

Besides these Shell-chartered vessels, Knutsen also took delivery of the 174,000-cbm Mraikh on June 26.

The shipping firm said in a separate social media post that this marks the first in a series of 10 vessels contracted with state-owned LNG giant QatarEnergy.


HD Hyundai Heavy built this LNG carrier.

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