LNG shifts gears: Record FLNG builds, bold contracts & idle fleets.

Welcome back to LNG4U — your clear view into what’s driving the LNG market.
We kick off with a fresh insight to keep you one step ahead 🎓, then break down the developments that count — from market trends 💰 to offshore shifts 🚢.
Let’s get started.

🎓 LNGKnowledge

The LNG Cargo tank are warmed up 🔴 before inerting operation.

LNG from the liquid and spray lines must be properly drained prior to the warmup 🔴 operation and the lines proved liquid free .

Warmup of the cargo tanks is achieved by drawing cold vapour 💭 from the tanks using HD compressors, circulating the vapour through the cargo heaters🔥, and returning it back to the tanks.

Large quantities of gas will be generated during the initial stages of the warmup as the residual LNG in the tanks is vaporised 📈. The gas may be burnt in the boilers, utilising the stream-dump if necessary or using the GCU.

A successful warmup 🔥 of the cargo vapour achieves the maximum vapour density difference between the warm LNG Vapour and the Inert gas for the next stage, which improves the displacement effect while inerting.

The warmup operation is continued until at least the following temperatures are achieved 👇

🎯 Membrane type +5°C at the secondary barrier

🎯 Moss type +25°C at the tankwall.

How long the warming up takes ❓

🎯 140.000 m³ membrane 48hours 🕤 from -130°C ➡ +5°C

🎯 135.000 m³ Moss type 60 hours 🕤 from -130°C ➡ +25°C

🚨 Watch the Insulation Space pressure as, when the space warms up, the N2 expands and will relieve to atmosphere.

Source : LNG Shipping Knowledge

💰 LNGPrices

Freight rates / 174,000 m3 / 2 Stroke

Atlantic - (Spark30S)	$ 36,500 / day
Pacific - (Spark25S)	$ 35,000 / day

Natural Gas

Asia (JKM) - Oct 25	$ 11.635 / mmBtu
Europe (NWM) - Oct 25	$ 10.858 / mmBtu

Bunkers

$/MT	LNG	VLSFO	MGO
Singapore	729.82	507.50	657.50
Rotterdam	711.67	473.50	661.00

🏭 LNGTerminals

Nikkiso Clean Energy & Industrial Gases Group (Nikkiso CE&IG) has been hired 🤝 by New Providence Gas (NPG), a joint venture (JV) to be formed by Shell and a subsidiary of FOCOL Holdings, to provide a liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification and cryogenic equipment 💧 for an LNG-to-power project in Nassau, the Bahamas 📍.

New Providence Gas project, an LNG receiving terminal enabling additional power generation 🏭 at Clifton Pier to deliver lower-carbon infrastructure with LNG to feed new and retrofitted gas turbines, which previously used diesel ⚡.

Source: Shell

🚢 LNGShips

Around 9% of the existing LNG carrier fleet is currently idling or laid up ⚓ spelling a quiet exit from the fleet for many of these vessels which will help tighten the market 📊.

Some 64 steam turbine and tri-fuel diesel-electric vessels are currently “out of play” 🚨 today. Flex interim chief executive Marius Foss

Source: Flex LNG

Flex LNG has signed a second Japanese operating lease (Jolco) 🤝 on one of its LNG carriers and a bank loan financing facility for a second 💵.

The company secured a new 💰175m Jolco for its 173,400-cbm Flex Resolute (built 2020).

It follows the deal announced earlier in the year on its 173,400-cbm Flex Courageous (built 2019).

Source: Flex LNG

Awilco LNG will take redelivery of one of its two diesel-electric LNG carriers this year 🤝 after the charterer opted not to declare a two-year option to extend the hire 🚫.

The charter on the 156,000-cbm 👉 WilPride (built 2013) runs until late 2025, but no notice to extend the hire for two more years ❌ at the current rate was received by the 1 August deadline and the vessel will be open at the end of the firm period.

Source: Awilco LNG

Dubai-based newcomer Kratos Gas Transport has fixed out its first LNG carrier 🚢, which it bought at the end of last year.

The 138,059-cbm steam turbine vessel Marigold LNG (ex-BW Boston, built 2003) has been fixed for one year with Adnoc Logistics & Services 🤝 and loaded a first shipment at Abu Dhabi’s Das Island terminal on 18 August 💧.

Source: Vessel tracker

🏗 LNGShipbuilding

A joint venture encompassing Japan’s shipping companies NYK and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line), Malaysia’s energy-related maritime services provider MISC, and China LNG Shipping (Holdings) Limited (CLNG) has taken delivery 🎊 of a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier built for QatarEnergy, as part of the Qatari state-owned energy giant’s massive LNG shipbuilding expansion quest 🚀.

The HHI Ulsan Shipyard of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has completed and delivered the 👉 Al Zuwair LNG vessel to QatarEnergy.

The new ship is powered by two X-DF 2.1 iCER engines 🏭, described as highly fuel-efficient dual-fuel engines capable of using fuel oil and boil-off gas as fuel.

Source: NYK

Shell welcomed the newest LNG carrier to join its fleet, the Orion Hugo, in Ulsan, South Korea.

The vessel, which is part of Shell’s LNG fleet rejuvenation programme comprising 2️⃣4️⃣ sister ships, was developed by Shell in collaboration with various shipyards and selected Shipping Companies 🏢.

Source: Shell LNG

Eni announced the sail away ceremony for the Nguya floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) unit in Shanghai 🎊.

The unit is set to significantly boost LNG production 💧 as part of the Congo LNG project in the Marine XII concession, offshore the Republic of Congo 📍.

The Nguya unit, 376 meters long and 60 meters wide, will be moored at a depth of 35 meters and used for liquefied natural gas production 💧.

Conceived, designed, and built in only 33 months - from contract award to sail away - the FLNG sets a record for time-to-market in the entire sector 🏆.

Its cutting-edge technical features allow it to process gas from multiple fields, making it suitable for the development of future fields as well 🌏.

Source: ENI

AMIGO LNG has awarded an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to 🤝 Dubai-based Drydocks World for what is expected to be the world’s largest floating LNG (FLNG) facility 🥇 .

The facility will have a production capacity exceeding 4.2 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) 💧. The project also includes floating storage units (FSUs) to support export operations 🚢.

Drydocks World will convert FSUs and construct newbuild FLNG barges 🚢 that incorporate U.S. liquefaction and pre-treatment technology. Fabrication will take place at the company’s shipyard in Dubai 🏗.

Source: Pipeline & Gas Journal

Seatrium has held a naming ceremony for a floating storage regasification unit (FSRU) 🎊, thanks to a conversion project secured with Karpowership 🤝 FSRU Karadeniz LNGT Powership Americas.

The project entailed many elements, including advanced regasification systems and precise cargo handling capabilities 💭, achieving zero lost time incidents (LTI).

The firm is working with Karpowership as a long-term strategic partner across a broader innovation horizon 🤝, encompassing FLNGs, floating batteries, data centres, and desalination vessels 🚢.

Source: Seatrium

🤝 LNGContracts

Amigo LNG, a Mexican joint venture between Texas-based Epcilon LNG and Singapore’s LNG Alliance, has landed a definitive multi-year sales and purchase agreement (SPA) with 🤝 Gunvor Singapore, an independent commodity trading house, for the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from its liquefaction facility 💧 under development on Mexico’s West Coast.

Thanks to this long-term arrangement, Gunvor will buy 0.85 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG 💧for 20 years, with deliveries once commercial operations begin at Amigo LNG’s first liquefaction train, scheduled for the latter half of 2028 📅.

Source: LNG Alliance

Nigeria LNG Ltd has inked 20-year gas supply contracts 🤝 with NNPC Ltd and other oil firms for the supply of 1.29 billion standard cubic feet per day 💭 to support its liquefaction plants and expansion plans.

Source: Nigeria LNG

💧 LNGBunkering

US energy major ExxonMobil is being connected to charters on two 2️⃣ LNG bunker vessel newbuildings contracted by separate shipowners.

ExxonMobil has snapped up the first of four LNGBV newbuildings ordered 🚢, apparently on speculation, by Greek shipowner Evalend Shipping.

Source: HD Hyundai Heavy Industries

CMA CGM is making a strategic minority investment in US-based Vanguard Renewables to secure long-term access to volumes of renewable natural gas (RNG) 💧.

Vanguard, which runs anaerobic digesters powered by farm and organic waste, will dedicate up to four 4️⃣ projects to produce biomethane, or bio-LNG for the Marseille-headquartered carrier.

Source: CMA CGM

🔥 LNGAsFuel

China’s Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding has clinched an order for a dozen 🤝 LNG Powered 1,800 TEU container vessels from Singapore-based shipowner Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS), with an option for an additional six 6️⃣ units.

The contract is reportedly estimated at 💰37.5 million per newbuild. Should the option for the additional sextet be exercised, this would bring the total package to around 💰675 million.

All of the series’ boxships are to be chartered by French maritime transport heavyweight CMA CGM 🤝

Source: CMA CGM

⚡ AlternativeFuels

Singapore-based shipping company Ocean Network Express (ONE) has taken delivery 🎊 of the next 13,900 TEU fit-for-the-future container vessel from Japan’s Imabari Shipbuilding 🏗.

One Sincerity was designed for future conversion to operate while running on methanol and ammonia 🔥. Moreover, the Singapore-flagged boxship is said to have been readied to be fitted with a carbon capture system 💭, as well, for which the vessel secured approval in principle (AiP) from LR.