A naming ceremony of two LNG vessels ordered by PGNiG Supply & Trading, an ORLEN Group company specialising in LNG trading, was held in Ulsan, South Korea. The first ship was named ‘Lech Kaczyński’, the second one – ‘Grażyna Gęsicka’.

This is a symbolic gesture of remembrance for the victims of the Smolensk catastrophe of 2010- Lech Kaczyński, President of the Republic of Poland, and Grażyna Gęsicka, Minister for Regional Development.

“Securing the supply of LNG is not only about contracts, but also about our own fleet. With its exclusive disposal, we guarantee the stability of transport, as well as strengthen the Company’s position on the global LNG market”, says Daniel Obajtek, President of the PKN ORLEN Management Board.

Both vessels were constructed by Hyundai Heavy Industries, a company that is one of the leaders in the global shipbuilding industry. The construction of each took about 18 months. They are the most modern vessels of their type in the world.

ORLEN Group will use the LNG carriers under a long-term charter agreement signed with the Norwegian company Knutsen OAS Shipping, which specialises in the technical and commercial operation of LNG ships. Under the agreement, the shipowner will be responsible for the crewing and technical condition of the vessels. PGNiG Supply & Trading will have full commercial control over the chartered gas carriers.

The charter period covers 10 years with the possibility of extension. Each vessel can transport approximately 70,000 tonnes of LNG, which is equivalent to about 100 million cubic metres of gas in natural state. This is as much as all households in Poland consume for a week on average in a year”, stressed PKN ORLEN.

The gas carrier named “Lech Kaczyński” has already undergone sea trials and will begin service for ORLEN Group at the beginning of next year. Meanwhile, the vessel named ‘Grażyna Gęsicka’ will start transporting LNG in the second half of next year.

Adrian Andrzejewski