London LNG shipbrokers report how few wish to forward fix their tonnage too early with winter beckoning
Shipbrokers in the London market reported a move to more charter activity in September as August had seen the LNG market feel very subdued on a prompt basis with notably fewer spot fixtures than in the previous month.
Four LNG charters
Sept 14 (LNGJ) - Mitsui OSK Lines, the Japanese shipping company, has signed time charter contracts for four newbuild LNG carriers with a subsidiary of Russian LNG plant owner and developer Novatek. MOL said its vessels with 174,000 cubic metres capacity would be constructed in South Korea by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering and are scheduled for delivery in 2024.
“The newbuilding LNG carriers are equipped with the cutting-edge MAN Energy Solutions engines, which offer major improvements in fuel efficiency,” said MOL. “There is also a new design that generates less boil-off gas from cargo tanks through the use of the re-liquefaction unit on board, and a generator system that uses the rotating propeller shaft for power generation,” it added.
Russian tanker and LNG carrier operator Sovcomflot benefits from higher early 2020 freight rates
Sovcomflot, the Russian shipping line with 17 liquefied natural gas carriers with others on order and with an overall fleet of 146 vessels, posted increased first-quarter revenues and profits on higher freight rates.
