Gotaas-Larsen
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Maritime LNG infrastructure |
| Predecessor | Gotaas-Larsen Shipping Company |
| Founded | 1946 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
Area served | Global |
Key people | John Fredriksen (major shareholder) |
| Products | Floating LNG liquefaction terminals (FLNG), Floating Storage and Regasification Units (FSRU) |
Golar LNG is engaged in the ownership and operation of maritime LNG infrastructure, focusing on Floating LNG liquefaction terminals (FLNG) and Floating Storage and Regasification Units (FSRU) created by converting existing LNG carriers. The company has finalized Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) studies for a larger, newly constructed FLNG facility and is partnering with key industry players on floating production projects for blue and green ammonia, as well as initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions in LNG production.
History
Established in 1946 under the name Gotaas-Larsen Shipping Company, the enterprise entered the LNG market in 1970. In 1973, its oil tanker suffered an explosion and sank near the Canary Islands; this incident marked the loss of the largest vessel at sea by gross register tonnage at that time.
In 1997, Singapore-based Osprey Maritime acquired the company. Subsequently, in 2000, John Fredriksen’s World Shipholding began acquiring Osprey, completing the takeover in 2001 when Osprey’s LNG assets were transferred to Golar LNG. The company was publicly traded on the Oslo Stock Exchange starting in 2001 and listed on NASDAQ in 2002; it was removed from Oslo’s exchange in August 2012.
In June 2015, Golar LNG entered into a joint venture with Stolt-Nielsen to investigate production and distribution opportunities, with Stolt-Nielsen obtaining a 2.3% ownership share. Golar LNG Partners LP operates Golar Spirit, recognized as the world’s first regasification vessel converted from an LNG carrier.