The Maritime Union of Australia is making noises it and its members have been excluded from discussions involving transporting the LNG to China. Currently four of the nine ships used to transport LNG from Karratha to SE Asia are Australian-owned, with the MUA manning these vessels.

The MUA said it had been committed to a continuity of supply agreement with the North West Shelf since 1988 but with the Chinese National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) LNG being sold on a free-on-board basis (liability for costs stops once loaded), Chinese maritime giants COSCO and China Merchant Group were taking responsibility for the LNG shipments.

Two dedicated LNG carriers are being constructed to satisfy the $25 billion LNG contract, which runs over 25 years. CNOOC has taken a direct stake amongst the NWS venture partners supplying LNG to the China.

The MUA said it would be looking for ongoing proportional participation in the additional LNG shipments.