What Crew Members Say About Al-Areesh

In an exciting development for Italy's energy landscape, two liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers from Qatar are slated to dock at the Adriatic LNG terminal, with an impressive capacity of 8 billion cubic meters per year, located in northern Italy. According to Platts’ trade flow software, cFlow, the Al Areesh LNG, measuring 151,700 cubic meters, and the Maran Gas Asclepius, with a capacity of 145,700 cubic meters, are expected to arrive at the regasification plant on Wednesday and September 18, respectively. Both vessels departed from Ras Laffan in Qatar and are making their way to the Adriatic Sea. The Al Areesh was recently spotted off the eastern coast of Italy, within the Adriatic Sea, while the Maran Gas Asclepius is en route, having already set sail eastward from Qatar but currently positioned in the Persian Gulf. Additionally, there is a possibility that another Qatari vessel, the Al Daayen, also with a capacity of 151,700 cubic meters, may make a stop at the Adriatic LNG terminal on September 13. Currently on its way to the Suez, the Al Daayen has not confirmed its ultimate destination in the cFlow data; however, it has consistently followed the Ras Laffan to Adriatic LNG route over the past six months. If all three tankers arrive as projected, Italy's LNG imports for this month could total around 354 million cubic meters of natural gas—significantly less than the 420 million cubic meters imported in August and the 474 million cubic meters recorded during the same timeframe last year, based on operational statistics from Snam, Italy's transmission system operator. The Adriatic LNG terminal, strategically located in the northern Adriatic Sea near Porto Levante, is operated by Terminale GNL Adriatico Srl, a consortium in which Qatar Petroleum holds a 45% stake alongside equal shares from ExxonMobil and 10% from Edison. This influx of Qatari LNG signifies a substantial development in Italy’s ongoing energy narrative.