Höegh LNG’s Höegh Esperanza has started commissioning for FSRU operations following its arrival at the Tianjin LNG terminal in China.

It is currently serving a three-plus-one year FSRU/LNG carrier time charter with CNOOC Gas & Power Trading and Marketing, Höegh LNG said in a statement.

Under the contract, Höegh Esperanza will be utilized in FSRU mode for a minimum period each year, with the balance of the year in LNG carrier mode and/or FSRU mode.

The FSRU Höegh Esperanza was delivered from Hyundai Heavy Industries in April 2018 and entered the contract with CNOOC in June 2018.

The FSRU has both open and closed loop regasification capability, an import capacity of around 6 million tonnes of LNG per year and storage capacity of 170,000 cubic meters of LNG.

It is equipped with a GTT Mark III membrane containment system and dual-fuel diesel-electric propulsion, providing it with full LNGC trading capabilities.

Speaking of the FSRU’s deployment at the Tianjin LNG terminal, Sveinung Støhle, CEO & president of Höegh LNG, said, “Following an aggressive coal-to-gas switch, China’s LNG imports look to increase by almost 50 percent in 2018, and the potential for further increases in LNG imports remains significant.”

Combined with the sale-and-leaseback financing for its 10th FSRU earlier this year, this FSRU/LNG carrier contract for Höegh Esperanza with CNOOC is in line with Höegh LNG’s goal of securing a larger share in future LNG import expansions, Støhle said.