Belgium’s Exmar, the Nicolas Saverys-led shipowner, said its Caribbean FLNG, to be renamed Tango FLNG, has berthed in Bahia Blanca, Argentina. 

The floating LNG unit will stay in Argentina and produce LNG for export for the Argentinian energy company YPF over a 10-year period.

Exmar noted in its statement that after the deal was signed in November 2018, the unit was transported from China to Argentina onboard a heavy lift vessel.

The next major project milestone will involve outfitting and commissioning the unit. The departure of the first fully-loaded conventional LNG carrier is expected in the second quarter of 2019, Exmar said.

Tango FLNG is the first project using Exmar’s FLNG technology and will soon become the first FLNG to produce LNG in the Americas, turning Argentina into an LNG exporter, Exmar said.

Tango FLNG is designed to operate with a liquefaction capacity of approximately 0.5 million tons of LNG per year and will serve YPF in exporting Vaca Muerta gas reserves to international markets.