Ship chandlers & ship supply at Ras Laffan QARLF

Ras Laffan Port, established in 1996 and run by QatarEnergy, is described as the largest artificial harbour in the world and holds the world’s largest LNG export facility. It has six LNG berths, six liquid product berths, one sulphur berth, six dry cargo berths, 14 support-vessel berths and two single point moorings offshore, and takes Q-Flex and Q-Max LNG carriers.^[1]

—Two 10 km breakwaters enclose the harbour. Its two 400 m entrance channels are dredged to 15 m below chart datum, and depth inside the four docks falls to 13.5 m. Ships must keep 1 m under the keel at berth.^[2]

—Traffic mix inside the harbour: LNG and LPG carriers, part-laden or ballasted tankers up to 300,000 SDWT, dry cargo and sulphur ships, construction tug-and-barge spreads, and offshore service vessels for the oil and gas fields.^[2]

—Expansion: QatarEnergy LNG is designing 13 new LNG loading berths at a south export terminal in Ras Laffan (Worley FEED, awarded Q2 2026) for the North Field expansion. That expansion lifts capacity from 77.5 to 126 million tonnes a year by 2028 in its first two phases.^[3]

The port rules put the supply window outside cargo operations. Stores and provisions, apart from hand-carried provisions and laundry, cannot be taken while LNG, LPG, condensate or other liquid petroleum cargo is being loaded or discharged. No barge or boat may come alongside an LNG or product tanker while the loading arms are connected, so deliveries are planned for before or after loading through the agent.^[2]

—Bunkering and fresh water are not available for shipping, except for OSVs and project craft. Gas oil and water can be ordered by road tanker at the dry cargo berths through the agent or service provider, in writing, at least 24 hours ahead.^[2]

—Shore-supplied stores must be reported to the port facility security officer (PFSO) and Qatar Customs. All crew, visitor, store and bunker movements are reported to the PFSO or security on duty.^[2]

—The port anchorage is split into 21 segments, and Port Control assigns the segment. OSVs and small craft may shelter behind the southern breakwater. The SPM terminal has its own anchorage, and no stores, fresh water or bunkers may be taken while moored at the SPM.^[2]

—2026: Ras Laffan was hit by missiles on 18 March and QatarEnergy stopped LNG production. With the Strait of Hormuz blockaded, only 18 cargoes left in the first six months of the war, against 509 in the same period a year earlier (140–150 a month before the war). Laden departures picked up in late September 2026 but remain far below pre-war levels.^[4,5,6]

—ETA notices through the agent to RLC Port Control 7 days, 72 hours, 48 hours and 24 hours ahead, with the pre-arrival questionnaire included in the 72-hour notice. The ETA is confirmed 4 hours out, and the ship calls VHF 16 or 12 within 6 hours of arrival.^[2]

—A pilot: pilotage is compulsory in the port area, with limited exemptions such as masters of ships under 75 m holding an exemption certificate. The agent requests pilots and tugs at least 2 hours before each move.^[2]

—Waste: bins at the cargo and OSV berths take domestic and food waste and plastics. Garbage from the LNG berths, liquid product berths and anchorage is collected through the agent, and sludge and waste oil go by approved road trucks at selected berths. Hazardous waste stays on board because the port has no collection facility for it.^[2]

—Shore leave needs security gate passes, arranged by the agent together with transport.^[2]

—Stores and provisions for the window before or after loading: post a requirement and chandlers and agents serving Ras Laffan answer with sealed bids. Suppliers never see the vessel’s name until award. If you serve LNG carriers here, be the first supplier in.