Few uncommitted LNG newbuildings remain to be delivered this year, and the number of open vessels for the large delivery haul scheduled for 2020 is also falling.
Brokers said two Flex LNG ships appear to be the only open speculatively-contracted vessels on offer in the current market.
The 173,400-cbm newbuildings Flex Constellation and Flex Courageous are scheduled for handover from DSME in June and August respectively.
Clarksons’ Shipping Intelligence Network database lists 27 LNG carriers remaining for delivery this year, of which six are vessels of less than 50,000 cbm.
But 2020 is set to see a large number delivered.
Figures compiled by Howe Robinson Partners show 55 LNG ship deliveries scheduled for 2020, of which 46 are vessels of more than 100,000 cbm.
The broker says around 15 of these currently appear to be uncommitted, including two 20,000-cbm ships contracted by small-scale start-up Avenir LNG.
Clarksons’ figures show that the big years for deliveries were 2008, when 53 LNG carriers were handed over, and 2018 (56 vessels).
In 2021, deliveries will fall again, with 21 newbuildings earmarked for handover.
Just four companies have contracted LNG tonnage for delivery in 2022. LNG newcomers Nisshin Shipping of Japan and South Korea’s Sinokor Merchant Marine have ordered one and four ships respectively.
Maran Gas Maritime and NYK are listed with one ship each for 2022 delivery, while Russia’s Sovcomflot (SCF Group) is due to take on Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex’s first LNG newbuilding in 2023.
But shipyards are readying for a wave of orders from Qatargas and ExxonMobil, which are expected to soak up berth space from 2023.
