Shipowner and supply company Avenir LNG has secured work for its remaining three small-scale LNG carrier newbuildings and no longer has any open vessels, according to brokers and consultants.

Those following the company's ships closely said one of Avenir's two 20,000-cbm LNG carriers — the under construction Avenir Allegiance and Avenir Achievement — has been under discussion with energy major Shell and Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) about work in the Caribbean region.

One indicated that Shell is trying to secure a large LNG bunker vessel (LNGBV) until its own recently ordered 12,000-cbm Jones Act newbuilding delivers.

They said the second 20,000-cbm LNG carrier is tied up to a project in Shanghai, China, which has a significant element of local content.

China has more recently emerged as an option for some of the large container ship owners and operators that have contracted LNG dual-fuel tonnage and are looking at locations to supply their vessels.

The fourth of Avenir’s 7,500-cbm LNG carriers, the Avenir Ascension, which is being built at Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co (CIMC SOE), is described as committed to a large trader who is particularly active in the LNG sector.

Supply tenders

Brokers said there are several large LNG bunker tenders in the market at present from shipowner and operating companies such as MSC and Zim, which are trying to pin down supply for their newbuildings.

This year has seen a sharp uptick in the number of LNG dual-fuelled newbuilding contracts, with companies in the large tanker, boxship and car carrier deepsea trades ordering tonnage.

One broker commented that Avenir, which ordered its six newbuildings at a time when prices were considerably cheaper, has "done well" with its three vessels and secured "good rates" on them.

There are limited numbers of small-scale LNG carriers and those that have been ordered are largely contracted against long-term contracts.

Avenir LNG chief executive Peter Mackey is remaining silent on the chartering business for the company's vessels. Photo: Avenir LNG

Avenir chief executive Peter Mackey said the company has no comment to make at this stage.

Mackey told this publication in April that Avenir was close to fixing its two 20,000-cbm ships and said the company was expected to wrap up business for them before the end of the second quarter.

He said both vessels are set to be used for projects in which Avenir is providing LNG supply and using its own assets. However, it is unclear if this is still the case.

“Our goal is about supplying LNG to new markets and our ships are the enabler,” Mackey said. “If we see an opportunity for a charter, we will look at that.”

Trading trio

Three of Avenir's six-ship fleet are already trading.

The 7,500-cbm Avenir Advantage (built 2020) is on charter to Petronas and is being used to bunker vessels off the Malaysian coast.

The sistership newbuilding Avenir Accolade is chartered out to New Fortress Energy and was seen recently supplying its new terminal in La Paz, Mexico.

A first 7,500-cbm vessel from CIMC SOE, the newbuilding Avenir Aspiration, is employed by Avenir in the northwest European region.

Avenir is a joint venture among Golar LNG, Hoegh LNG and Stolt-Nielsen and was formed in 2018.