NLNG takes delivery of first of 6 vessels from Korea

The Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) has taken delivery of one of the six new ships it purchased last year from South Korea.
The vessel christened; NLNG Finima 11, was received by a team of NLNG officials led by NLNG Manager Commercial Shipping, Captain Ahmed Hambali Yusuf ,shortly after the conclusion of its maiden voyage, which terminated in Bonny Island, Rivers State.
The ship is owned by Bonny Gas Transport Limited, one of the subsidiaries of NLNG, which has its registered office at Clavendon House, Church Street, Halmiton, Bermuda.
NLNG Ship Management Limited (NSML), another subsidiary of NLNG manages the operations of the ship, which has registered tonnage of 34, 970 and its port of registry as Hamilton.
LNG Finima 11 is a modern vessel in every ramification. It is not only fitted with the latest technology but it is also environmentally friendly with lower emission. It has a length of 293.193 metres, 47.80 metres and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) number 9690145.
The ship took 26 days to sail from Korea to Nigeria with an almost Nigerian crew led by Captain Charles Thorneloe, a Briton.
Though the captain of the ship said he has sailed to Nigeria several times in the course of his career, including Nigeria’s premier port, Apapa, Lagos, he told THISDAY in an exclusive interview on board the vessel that it was the first time he would be sailing to Bonny Island.
Thorneloe revealed that the journey from Korea to Nigeria was with some challenges but expressed delight that he and his crew members were able to surmount them.
“There were some challenges on this maiden voyage but with the support and co-operation of the management of NLNG and the crew members, we were succeeded in navigating the ship safely to its destination”, the ship captain said.
Among other features, the ship has a modern lift that makes it easy to move from one deck to the other. It also has swimming pool, gymnasium, conference rooms, dinning, kitchen, accommodation, and offices for several activities.
Yusuf stated that NLNG started incorporating local content in the way it runs its operation long before the Local Content Bill was signed into law by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“NLNG started incorporating local content in the way we run our operation many years before the Local Content Act was passed by the National Assembly in the last Assembly. Right from inception of this company, we have been recruiting Nigerians and training them on various aspects of our operations. Even this ship was sailed into Nigeria all the way from Korea by Nigerians except the captain and two other officials”, he said.
According to Yusuf who was the first Nigerian to be trained by NLNG to the level of a ship captain, unlike his days when he was the only black man in the ship, nowadays we have many Nigerians on board. Presently if you go to the dinning for your meal, it is no longer a white man’s affair. There are many Nigerians on board.
He expressed delight that NLNG is adding value to the Nigerian economy by using Nigerians to build the six vessels it procured from Korea last year.
He also revealed that as part of the contract it signed with the ship builders, Nigerian firms were used to supply some of the items used in building the ships, including the wires, interior décor and furniture.