LNG carrier Methania at Antwerp.

[Terneuzen]

Does somebody know why LNG Carrier Methania is moored at quai 321 in Antwerp ? Is it for normal maintenance or is she laid up ?

[Guest]

terneuzen wrote:
Does somebody know why LNG Carrier Methania is moored at quai 321 in Antwerp ? Is it for normal maintenance or is she laid up ?

Hi Terneuzen

Greenpeace are suggesting on their web site that this vessel may be close to decommissioning/demolition - not sure how true that is but you can check out their page @ http://www.greenpeaceweb.org/shipbreak/50-ships.asp?id=54

Regards

[Christian Br]

If so, I guess it's a rare occurrence. Not to many LNG's being scrapped.

Christian!

[Gaetan Spoormans]

Hi

I saw the vessel yesterday, and she is in very good condition.
(she is allready 30 years old)
I think she is waiting for new orders.....

brgds
Gaetan

[Zachariah Allen]

I believe that some repair work was being done.  The ship is now expected to arrive on August 3rd at Zeebrugge.  The purpose is not clear to me.  The Zeebrugge port website says "gassing in," whatever that is.  One thing I am pretty sure of is that the ship is neither offloading or loading LNG.  I doubt there is much LNG on board left (if any) to offload, and I do not believe that Zeebrugge is equipped to transfer LNG from the tanks to a ship.  (Some LNG import terminals, such as Huelva in Spain are so equipped.)
I am guessing that it may be some kind of procedure to remove the inert gasses from the cargo tanks and start the cool-down process after the long lay-up, but that is only a guess.
If someone knows what is going on, I would like to hear about it.
Thanks