ADNOC Logistics & Services receives sixth 175,000 cbm LNG carrier “Al‑Tawilah”
ADNOC Logistics & Services has taken delivery of the sixth 175,000 cbm LNG carrier, boosting fleet capacity and securing long‑term LNG transport contracts.
ADNOC Logistics & Services confirmed the arrival of the 175,000 cubic metre liquefied natural gas carrier named Al‑Tawilah, delivered from the Jiangnan shipyard in Shanghai. The ship is the sixth unit in a new class of vessels ordered to strengthen the company’s ability to move LNG to international markets. The delivery underscores the company’s push to expand reliable energy transport capacity as global demand for flexible supplies rises.
Vessel delivery and technical specifications
The Al‑Tawilah is rated at 175,000 cubic metres and was formally christened and handed over at Jiangnan in Shanghai during an official ceremony attended by company executives. Each cargo of this size carries roughly 1.1 terawatt‑hours of energy, a volume the company equates to the average winter gas demand of about 100,000 households in parts of Central Europe. The ship joins a modernised fleet designed to meet long‑distance export requirements and support ADNOC’s integrated energy network.
Order background and financial context
The new carrier is part of a broader purchase agreement for LNG tonnage valued at 4.4 billion dirhams, signed in 2022 as ADNOC Logistics & Services accelerated its fleet renewal program. That original order set the foundation for a phased delivery schedule, with the sixth vessel marking a major milestone in execution. The investment reflects a strategic response to rising cargo demand and the need to offer customers more assured shipping capacity under volatile market conditions.
Contract structure and revenue visibility
ADNOC Logistics & Services has allocated much of the added shipping capacity to long‑term contracts with third‑party customers and ADNOC group affiliates, ensuring utilisation and predictable cash flows. The company reports that around 60 percent of its revenues and the earnings of its strategic joint venture, AW Navigation, are backed by these extended agreements. This contract profile is intended to translate the enlarged fleet into sustained revenue growth and resilient earnings for investors.
Efficiency upgrades and emissions reductions
The new class of LNG carriers incorporates advanced energy‑efficient technologies aimed at cutting fuel consumption and fugitive methane emissions. ADNOC Logistics & Services states the vessels can reduce methane emissions by up to 50 percent compared with older carrier designs, reflecting tighter environmental performance standards in the maritime energy sector. These improvements align with the company’s stated objectives to lower operational emissions while improving cost efficiency during long‑haul voyages.
Expanded shipbuilding programme announced in 2024
Alongside the LNG deliveries, ADNOC’s shipping arm and its partners outlined a significant shipbuilding pipeline in 2024 that broadens fuel and feedstock shipping capabilities. AW Navigation, ADNOC’s strategic joint venture with a Chinese partner, placed orders for seven giant ethane carriers and four ammonia carriers with a combined value of about 7 billion dirhams. In the same year, ADNOC Logistics & Services also contracted eight additional LNG carriers with Samsung Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean, in deals worth up to 9.2 billion dirhams, cementing a multi‑year expansion of its global fleet.
Operational role and impact on UAE energy supply chains
The enlarged fleet is designed to support ADNOC’s downstream and petrochemical operations by ensuring secure movement of feedstocks and finished products across key trade lanes. By bolstering maritime logistics capacity, ADNOC Logistics & Services aims to strengthen the UAE’s role in global energy supply chains and provide customers with more reliable transport during peak demand periods. The strategy also enhances the group’s ability to capitalise on commercial opportunities while safeguarding supply continuity for regional and international partners.
Deliveries will continue to roll out under the multi‑year shipbuilding programme, with ADNOC Logistics & Services planning to integrate the new vessels into both long‑term charter operations and group‑level logistics solutions. The expanded, more efficient fleet is expected to support contracting flexibility, improved greenhouse‑gas intensity for seaborne LNG, and long‑term value creation for stakeholders.
