Timely Qatar Petroleum LNG carrier orders for output expansion would boost shipbuilding sector
Qatar Petroleum is finalizing plans to reserve berths for orders of at least 60 LNG carriers from Asian shipyards to give the sector a boost as nations emerge over the next two months from the economic disruptions of the coronavirus.
LNG ship rates steady
March 12 (LNGJ) - Shipping charter rates for LNG carriers in the spot market have levelled off and are little changed from a week ago. Rates were again quoted at an average of between $39,000 per day and $34,000 per day West of Suez and $38,000 per day and $33,000 per day East of Suez for vessels of between 155,000-165,000 cubic metres capacity, according to various brokers. One-year time charters have dropped for vessels of between 155,000-160,000 cubic metres capacity and are now seen at around $55,000 per day.
Doubts cast by Korea Development Bank over success of merger plan for LNG carrier builders
South Korea’s shipbuilding industry, the largest global constructor of LNG carriers, has just over a 50-50 chance of seeing the conclusion of a proposed merger between two of the nation’s three largest shipbuilders, Hyundai Heavy Industries and Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering.
