Qatar's Nakilat and John Angelicoussis' Maran Ventures are teaming up to run LNG carriers.
The two companies have set up a joint venture called Global Shipping Co.
Nakilat will have a 60% stake, with Maran holding the rest.
The JV will operate four 173,400-cbm newbuildings, effectively boosting the Qatar owner's fleet to 74 vessels - about 11.5% of the global LNG fleet in carrying capacity.
They are being built in South Korea. Angelicoussis has six such ships on order at DSME, due in 2020 and 2021.
Nakilat CEO Abdullah Al Sulaiti said the agreement is a step forward for his company as it expands to meet the growing international demand for clean energy.
"This has subsequently led to a significant increase in demand for LNG shipping, which we hope will have a positive effect on charter rates," he added.
"With the four new vessels being managed and marketed by Nakilat, this not only affirms our global leadership in energy transportation but also bears testament to our vessel management and marketing capabilities with the world’s largest LNG fleet."
Angelicoussis company Maran Gas has 41 LNG carriers, including 13 newbuildings on order.
Relationship strengthened
Angelicoussis, who chairs Maran Ventures, said: “Nakilat has been one of our strategic partners for many years and we are pleased to be strengthening our relationship with them.
"Through this new venture, I am confident that we will continue to provide first-class services together for all our LNG customers around the world and look forward to further collaborations in the future.”
A first joint venture with Nakilat, Maran Nakilat, was formed with Maran Gas in 2005.
It started with four ships and last year added two five-year-old Maran units: the 159,800-cbm Woodside Rodgers and Woodside Goode (both built 2013).
That expanded the jointly-owned fleet to 15, the Qatar-based shipowner said.
Al-Sulaiti said on Wednesday: “We have seen a shift in terms of management and vessel technology in the industry, which we have taken into consideration."
He added that the new ships are equipped with some of the most advanced technology in the market today, with two of them being equipped with ME-GI and the other two with X-DF technology.
