On 10^th September, the naming ceremony for the first two LNG carriers of QatarEnergy’s historic shipbuilding program - the world’s largest - was held on the Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard premises located in the Changxing Island, Shanghai, China. His Excellency Mr. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, President and CEO of QatarEnergy, Mr. Chen Jianliang, Chairman of Hudong-Zhonghua, Mr. Takeshi Hashimoto, CEO of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, and Mr. Zhu Bixin, President of China COSCO SHIPPING Corporation Limited, as well as distinguished guests from QatarEnergy, QatarEnergy LNG, MOL, Hudong-Zhonghua, lenders and classification societies witnessed the naming of the two LNG carriers.

In 2022, COSCO SHIPPING LNG Investment (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., an LNG shipping subsidiary of COSCO SHIPPING Energy, together with its business partner, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, was awarded seven 174,000 cubic meter LNG carriers for QatarEnergy’s North Field Expansion Shipping Project. All 7 newbuilding LNGCs are being constructed at Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard, at which COSCO SHIPPING and MOL have a solid track record of LNG ship construction and delivery.

COSCO SHIPPING has closely worked with MOL and Hudong-Zhonghua, leveraging all parties’ experience in LNG shipbuilding, with an aim to ensure the highest standards of quality, safety, and construction schedule. "Rex Tillerson" and "Umm Ghuwailina" will be soon ready for delivery and become the first newbuilt LNGCs to join QatarEnergy’s fleet.

COSCO SHIPPING Energy, together with MOL, will ensure the safe and efficient operation of the LNG carriers to serve the charterer’s international trades and fostering a resilient LNG value chain. With strong dedication to the successful "Belt and Road" cooperation, COSCO SHIPPING Energy is well-positioned to contribute to China's LNG import channels, facilitate the development of green supply chains amid global energy transition, and enhance the Qatar-China friendship in the longer future.

**Vessel Information:**

"Rex Tillerson" and "Umm Ghuwailina" feature the fifth-generation "Ever-Lasting Series" 174,000 cubic meter LNG carrier design which is independently developed by Hudong-Zhonghua. This design incorporates the latest vessel design concepts within LNGC shipbuilding industry with excellent hydrodynamic characteristics and high compatibility. The vessels have a length of 299 meters, a breadth of 46.4 meters and a depth of 26.25 meters, and are designed and built as per the technical standards established by QatarEnergy. The vessels feature the latest generation twin-skeg design, are equipped with numerous low-carbon and digital technologies, able to achieve good performance in terms of navigation speed, emission control and cargo capacity.