John Fredriksen-controlled Flex LNG is believed to have tied up a 12-month charter for one of its 13 LNG carriers with energy major Chevron.
Brokers said the company has fixed the 173,400-cbm, M-type, electronically-controlled gas-injection (ME-GI) vessel Flex Enterprise (built 2018) to Chevron.
Last week, Flex said it had fixed a ship on a one-year time charter to a super-major on a contract that is due to start in this quarter, without giving further details.
The ship is said to be delivering to its charterer on a prompt basis after discharging in Australia.
A rate has still to emerge and is simply being reported as “market-related”.
Reports of multi-month fixtures for LNG carriers have continued to trickle into the market this week, raising sentiment for the second half of this year.
Energy major Shell was reported to have fixed the 161,870-cbm BW Pavilion Leeara (built 2015) for 12 months at a rate in the mid-to-high $60,000-per-day range.
The 173,400-cbm BW Lilac (built 2018) was being linked to trader Trafigura for a 10-month period charter with options at a strong rate in the mid-$80,000-per-day range.
Brazil’s Petrobras is said to have taken the 165,500-cbm Magellan Spirit (built 2009) at a daily rate in the mid-$60,000s for a three-year period.
Brokers say there are ongoing discussions with big-name charterers for LNG tonnage to take on time charter, particularly to cover the coming winter period. But the improved activity has yet to shift spot market rates as there is still good vessel availability across the market.
