Slated for delivery during 2007-2008, each vessel will be capable of transporting 145,000 cu metres of LNG and will be used for BG’s Atlantic Basin LNG business.

Under the terms of the contract, valued at US$620 million (roughly US$155 million per ship), Samsung will build, equip, launch, and deliver the ships. Each vessel will be equipped with steam-turbine propulsion systems, which will allow them to travel at average speeds of 20 knots.

BG’s fleet currently has two LNG ships, the Methane Arctic and the Methane Polar, with a third, the Methane Kari Elin, slated to come into service this year. Another three vessels are slated for commission during the second half of 2006.

BG also has five ships charted from Golar LNG Ltd: Hill, Gimi, Khannur, Golar Freeze, and Methane Princess.