Golar LNG has agreed to acquire the 2013-built LNG carrier Grace Dahlia from NYK Line for conversion into its fourth floating liquefied natural gas production unit (FLNG), with delivery scheduled for 2029.
The vessel will be converted at CIMC Raffles’ Yantai shipyard in China, where Golar LNG’s 3.5 MTPA FLNG Esperanza is also under construction.
Grace Dahlia has an LNG storage capacity of 177,427 m³, approximately 20% larger than that of FLNG Esperanza. According to Golar LNG, the increased capacity is expected to provide prospective customers with greater flexibility in LNG offloading operations.
The vessel acquisition follows an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) agreement signed with CIMC Raffles for Golar LNG’s fourth FLNG unit, announced on 13 August 2026.
The project carries a total budget of approximately $2.45 billion, including delivery to its prospective operating site. This figure represents the overall FLNG project budget, not the purchase price of Grace Dahlia, which has not been disclosed.
The new facility will be Golar LNG’s second MKII-design FLNG, with an annual liquefaction capacity of 3.5 million tonnes. It will follow the same design concept as FLNG Esperanza, allowing construction of the two units to overlap at the Yantai yard.
Under the EPC agreement, Black & Veatch will provide its PRICO LNG liquefaction technology, detailed engineering and process design, topside equipment procurement and commissioning support.
Golar LNG is targeting a long-term charter agreement for the fourth FLNG and has reported advanced commercial discussions with prospective customers.
The company previously announced that a conversion vessel had been secured without identifying it. Its 7 October 2026 announcement confirmed Grace Dahlia as the selected vessel.
The fourth FLNG is expected to be delivered from CIMC Raffles by the end of 2029. A specific date for the transfer of Grace Dahlia from NYK Line has not been announced.
