Qatar Petroleum (QP) has joined forces with other major liquefied natural gas (LNG) players to collaborate on the development of new vessel designs to transport the super-chilled fuel across the world. 

ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell plc and Total SE joined with QP in signing an agreement to develop new medium and large LNG tankers with LNT Marine, the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS). ABS is a global provider of vessel classification and technical advisory services, while SWS is a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corp.

The joint industry project is aimed at developing new LNG carrier designs that would utilize Singapore-based LNT Marine’s LNT A-BOX design. LNG vessels have unique cargo containment systems to maintain natural...