LNG Carrier

An LNG carrier is a specialized cargo ship built to transport liquefied natural gas, carrying the gas in insulated tanks at extremely low temperature so it remains in liquid form at roughly one six-hundredth of the volume it would occupy as a gas, making long-distance seaborne transport of natural gas practical where pipelines are unavailable or uneconomical. Built with either independent insulated tanks or a membrane containment system integrated into the hull, the type requires specialized construction techniques and safety systems distinct from an ordinary tanker because of the cargo's extreme cold and flammability, and the global fleet of LNG carriers has grown substantially since the mid-twentieth century as liquefied natural gas has become a major traded energy commodity linking gas-producing regions such as Qatar and Australia with importing markets in Asia and Europe.