PRNewswire: Shell to Recruit U.S. Seafarers for International LNG Fleet for the First Time

LONDON and HOUSTON, Feb. 8 /PRNewswire/ — Shell International Trading
and Shipping Company Ltd. (SHELL) today announced it will begin recruiting
U.S. seafarers for the company’s growing portfolio of managed international
liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels.

    One of the first major oil producers to actively recruit U.S. seafarers
for LNG vessels, Shell is committed to securing the most qualified
seafarers for its maritime fleet operations and the United States offers an
exceptional skill pool, particularly for LNG vessels.

    “The recruitment drive also provides an excellent opportunity for
American mariners to enhance their careers through Shell’s international
businesses and domestic joint ventures, such as Broadwater Energy, LLC in
Long Island Sound,” said Bob Salmon, general manager of shipping for Shell
Trading (US) Company.

    The effort supports Shell’s increasing vessel management portfolio,
which was extended in November 2006 when Nakilat Shipping (Qatar) Ltd., a
wholly owned subsidiary of Qatar Gas Transport Company Ltd. (Nakilat),
formalized an agreement with Shell to provide shipping and maritime
services to Nakilat’s fleet of 25 new-build LNG carriers.

    “The addition of U.S. mariners will positively enhance Shell’s diverse
seafarer skill pool and provide Shell and Nakilat with highly experienced
personnel for their LNG fleets. We’re excited to work with the U.S.
Department of Transportation’s Marine Administration (MARAD) and the U.S.
maritime unions to encourage the use of U.S. officers in the LNG industry,”
said Salmon.

    “We applaud Shell’s announcement, which coincides perfectly with a
universal training standards agreement facilitated recently by the Maritime
Administration. That agreement standardized training and internationally
accepted competencies for U.S. seafarers,” said Maritime Administrator Sean
T. Connaughton.

    “The growing worldwide demand in the LNG industry, including domestic
proposals like Broadwater, create a significant opportunity for U.S.
mariners, the U.S. maritime industry and coastal communities throughout the
country,” said Connaughton.

    Broadwater has proposed the construction of an LNG import terminal and
connecting pipeline that would help the Northeast region of the United
States meet its growing need for affordable and reliable natural gas
supplies. The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued its Final
Environment Impact Statement recently stating the terminal, with
implementation of recommended mitigation methods, would result in fewer
environmental impacts than any alternative energy sources considered.

    Shell currently employs more than 500 highly qualified fleet marine
officers with LNG experience around the world, and is looking to further
expand its skills base, with U.S. mariners in the rapidly growing field of
LNG shipping.

    Shell shares LNG shipping expertise and best practices with its global
partners, such as Qatar, Brunei, Nigeria and Australia. In addition to its
own staff, Shell trains approximately 150 officers from its global partner
countries that currently work within the Shell-managed fleet. More than 200
cadets are also undergoing training to become future officers in Shell’s
fleets.

    About Shell Trading

    The Shell Trading business encompasses the full range of trading and
shipping activities throughout Shell. With trading volumes of about 13
million barrels of oil equivalent per day, spread over physical crude oil,
refined products, natural gas, electrical power, chemical feedstocks and
environmental products, the organization has the skill base and
international scope to capitalise on trading opportunities inherent in
Shell’s asset and market positions around the world.

    In addition to its trading activities, Shell International Trading and
Shipping Co Ltd. (STASCO), headquartered in London, is responsible for the
operation of the STASCO managed fleet of oil and gas carriers and the
chartering of additional tonnage for the international trading of Shell’s
cargoes.

    Headquartered in Houston, Shell Trading (US) Company markets, trades
and transports crude, oil products, chemicals and risk products with
counterparties and customers across North America. In addition to other
Shell business units, its customers include other trading companies,
producers and commercial and industrial end users.

    Companies within the Shell Trading network are each separate entities
which trade in their own right but which also belong to a global
organization, enabling them to share knowledge and advice on best practice,
implement common systems and controls, and manage risks associated with
international trading in a competitive environment.

    About Qatar Gas Transport Company Ltd. (Nakilat)

    Nakilat (which means “carrier” in Arabic) is a shipping company that is
an integral part of the LNG supply chain for the State of Qatar. It was
established in 2004 and is a joint stock company owned 50% by its founding
shareholders and 50% by the public as result of an IPO (Initial Public
Offering) in 2005. It is building a large fleet of vessels to transport LNG
produced from Qatar’s North Field, the world’s largest non-associated gas
field with approximately 15% of the world’s total proven reserves, to
global markets. By 2010, Nakilat expects to own up to 54 LNG vessels,
making it one of the largest LNG ship owners in the world.

    Disclaimer statement:

    This announcement contains forward-looking statements that are subject
to risk factors associated with the oil, gas, power, chemicals and
renewables business. It is believed that the expectations reflected in
these statements are reasonable, but may be affected by a variety of
variables which could cause actual results, trends or reserves replacement
to differ materially, including, but not limited to: price fluctuations,
actual demand, currency fluctuations, drilling and production results,
reserve estimates, loss of market, industry competition, environmental
risks, physical risks, risks associated with the identification of suitable
potential acquisition properties and targets and the successful negotiation
and consummation of transactions, the risk of doing business in developing
countries, legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments including
potential litigation and regulatory effects arising from recategorisation
of reserves, economic and financial market conditions in various countries
and regions, political risks, project delay or advancement, approvals and
cost estimates.

    Please refer to the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended
December 31, 2006, (as amended) for a description of certain important
factors, risks and uncertainties that may affect the Shell Group’s
businesses. Neither Royal Dutch Shell plc nor any member of the Shell Group
undertakes any obligation to publicly update or revise any of these
forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future
events or other information.

    Cautionary Note to US Investors:

    The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (‘SEC’) permits
oil and gas companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only
proved reserves that a company has demonstrated by actual production or
conclusive formation tests to be economically and legally producible under
existing economic and operating conditions. We use certain terms in this
presentation, such as “expected producible resources” and “amount of
reserves we expect to produce”, that the SEC’s guidelines strictly prohibit
us from including in filings with the SEC.

 SOURCE Shell Trading

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