NYK Line has confirmed that it has secured long-term charter contracts for four new LNG carriers with German utility EnBW Energie Baden-Wuerttemberg AG (EnBW).
The four 174,000-cbm vessels will be built at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co in South Korea and will be completed in sequence during 2027. The ships will carry the French flag.
TradeWinds first reported that the Japanese shipping giant had been tipped to win the contract in late April 2023.
No financial terms were disclosed, but TradeWinds has reported that NYK Line has secured charter deals on the four vessels that will run for periods of between 12 and 20 years.
Charter rates in the $90,000-per-day region were being quoted on the newbuildings, with a variety of estimates given.
TradeWinds reported in March 2023 that EnBW, working with a major shipbroker, had secured the HHI berths at pre-negotiated prices of around $257m each and gone out to shipowners for offers.
NYK Line said the gas carriers will be propelled by fuel efficient dual-fuel slow-speed two-stroke marine engines and will also feature a shaft generator and air lubrication systems (ALS).
“This conclusion is of great significance for further promoting the NYK Group's Environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) management,” said Yasuyuki Inami, Executive Officer, NYK Energy Division.
“We will continue to provide EnBW with reliable LNG transportation services under our strong partnership, contributing to energy transitions around the world.”
NYK Line currently operates a fleet of 86 LNG carriers, according to its annual results presentation published in early May 2023. These consist of 83 owned ships and three that are chartered in.
