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PRESS RELEASE - August 2007

Bestobell wins first LNG Cargo Carrier Orders for new Cryogenic Globe and Check Valve Packages
UK-based cryogenic valve manufacturer Bestobell LNG has won its first orders to supply and install the main cargo-handling cryogenic globe and check valves to four LNG cargo carriers for the Qatargas IV project.

The new orders will be fulfilled alongside existing orders to supply the ships with miniature needle globe valves and Bestobell’s unique new patented Float Level Isolation Valve (FLIV).

The Qatargas shipping technical team identified the suitability and benefit of the FLIV, and also highlighted Bestobell LNG’s technical understanding of the cargo pipe layout and cryogenic valve designs. The team has specified the FLIV on all the new Qmax and Qflex LNG Carriers.

The valve packages extend from DN300 hydraulic motor-driven throttling globe valves and DN350 swing check valves, down to DN15 miniature needle globe valves. They will be fitted to the four LNGCs – hull numbers 2283/2284/2285/2286 – being built by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) for QGTC for the Qatargas IV project.

Bestobell LNG has been gradually extending its product range for LNGCs over the last three years, and these are the first ships to be fitted with this complete range. The new valves will be supplied to DSME in 2008.

Andrew Brown, Bestobell LNG Director, said: “Our policy has been to spend time listening to the concerns of ship-owners, ship-operators and ship-builders about valves currently in use, and to develop innovative solutions to these issues.

“We have applied technology developed over 40 years of supplying valves to the industrial gas industry, and the result is this high-performance new product range, which has been received with great enthusiasm by ship-owners and operators.”

Bestobell LNG now offers the complete cryogenic Globe, Check, Float Level Isolation Valve and Miniature Needle Globe Valve package for the cargo manifold.

Andrew Brown said: “The package has been developed in response to encouragement from ship-owners and ship-builders, because of their experiences in working with us on our other products for the 30 LNGCs for which we have received orders over the last 18 months. There is a strong desire to extend their working relationship with a cryogenic valve supplier that can be relied upon to deliver quality product on time to the shipyards.”

Bestobell LNG is committed to developing a worldwide network of service support to provide valve maintenance when LNG cargo carriers are in dry dock.

Andrew Brown explained: “Once in service, ship-owners can be confident that we will be there to support our products.

“We are passionate about on-time delivery and have an excellent track record of achieving this within the LNG industry. Our valve manufacturing and IT facilities in Sheffield and Hull are set up to enable us to continue delivering on time.

“For these reasons, we hope that more and more ship-owners and ship-builders will benefit from Bestobell’s 40 years experience in cryogenic valve design over the years to come.”

Bestobell LNG is a division of the Flow Group Limited, a British valve manufacturing group specialising in the supply of valves to the global energy industry. Annual sales have been growing at 30% per annum over the last three years and now approach $60million.

Other businesses in the Group are Shipham Valves, Bestobell Valves, Conflow and John Mills Valves. Like Bestobell LNG, Shipham Valves is a significant supplier to the LNG industry, supplying large quantities of gate, globe, check and ball valves for handling seawater to LNG liquefaction plants and regasification terminals.

"Bestobell LNG - specificed by those who plan for safety"