NYK Group Delivers First LNG Tanker To QatarEnergy Based at Persian Gulf

08/22/2025

The Natural Gas Resources of the Persian Gulf

The Persian Gulf is a geological powerhouse for hydrocarbons, containing not only vast oil reserves but also an enormous concentration of natural gas. It holds over 40% of the world’s proven natural gas reserves. The heart of this wealth is the North Field (offshore Qatar) and the South Pars field (offshore Iran), which are actually two halves of the same giant geological structure. This makes it the largest non-associated natural gas field on Earth.

Key Players: The primary gas-rich nations in the region are:

• • Iran: Holds the world’s second-largest gas reserves, primarily in South Pars.

  • Qatar: Ranked third globally in gas reserves, almost entirely from the North Field.

This concentration of resources makes the Persian Gulf a central player in the global energy security landscape, especially as the world seeks to transition to cleaner-burning fuels.

The Pillars of Qatar’s LNG Dominance

Qatar is the global leader in Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exports. It has massive production facilities that cool natural gas into a liquid for transport on specialized ships. To support this, Qatar owns one of the world’s largest LNG fleets, operated by Nakilat, ensuring control over its supply chain from production to delivery across the globe. Qatar’s dominance in Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)—where gas is cooled to -162°C for transport—is built on three pillars: its vast North Field resource, massive liquefaction capacity, and a purpose-built fleet.

This strategic control of the entire value chain is exemplified by its shipping arm, Nakilat, which operates a world-class fleet of over 70 carriers. To support its ongoing North Field Expansion (which will boost production capacity by over 60%), Qatar is executing the largest shipbuilding program in history, with over 100 new vessels on order. This new generation features massive Q-Max and Q-Flex carriers and advanced, eco-friendly engines, ensuring efficient and secure delivery to its global portfolio of long-term buyers in Asia and Europe. This integration of unparalleled resources, production, and logistics solidifies Qatar’s role as a central pillar of the global LNG industry.

NYK Group delivered Al Zuwair, the first of 12 tankers ordered by QatarEnergy and built by Hyundai Heavy Industries. The vessel will operate under a time charter agreement with QatarEnergy, one of the world’s largest producers of liquefied natural gas.

Al Zuwair is the third vessel in a series of 12 vessels commissioned by a joint venture between NYK, “K” Line, MISC Berhad, and China LNG Shipping, and the first built at the HHI shipyard. The vessel is equipped with two X-DF 2.1 iCER dual-fuel engines, powered by fuel oil and boil-off gas. It is also equipped with an air lubrication system and a reliquefaction unit to improve fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In May, Nippon Yuka Kogyo announced the launch of BioxiGuard , the first Japanese antioxidant developed specifically for marine biofuels, marking a further step forward in technologies for more sustainable shipping.