Japanese shipping giant NYK said Friday it signed a long-term contract with a unit of French energy giant Total to charter two liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.

Under the deal, Total Gas & Power Chartering will charter from NYK two new 174,000-cbm LNG carriers that will be built by Samsung Heavy Industries in Korea and scheduled for delivery in 2021.

The LNG carrier duo will be equipped with a WinGD-made dual-fuel slow-speed diesel engine that can operate on marine gas oil or boil off gas stored in the cargo tank. The carriers will also feature a re-liquefaction system that can use surplus boil-off gas.

Worth mentioning here, in September, NYK also concluded a long-term charter agreement with Total for another new LNG vessel. This LNG carrier will also be built at Samsung Heavy and is scheduled for delivery in 2021.