Damaged tanker begins LNG transfer near S'pore

[SINGAPORE] A damaged liquefied natural gas tanker, the Al Gharrafa, will transfer its cargo to another vessel, the Al Ghashamiya, before heading for repairs, according to OSG Ship Management.

The shift to the Al Ghashamiya, managed and operated by Shell International Trading & Shipping Co, was due to start yesterday and take about one week, an OSG official said, asking not to be identified because of internal policy. The company manages the Al Gharrafa, according to a statement.

The tanker was damaged when it collided near Singapore on Dec 28 with Hanjin Italy, a container ship. The transfer is taking place near the city-state, which aims to be Asia's trading hub for LNG.