Russia’s Gazprom Marketing & Trading has re-let one of its chartered-in Dynagas LNG carriers to liquefaction project operator Sakhalin Energy.
The 147,500-cbm Ob River (built 2007), the former Clean Power, will go on charter to the Sakhalin 2 operator for a five-year period from early 2013.
Sakhalin Energy said the vessel will be used to ship cargoes from its Prigorodnoye terminal to Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan and Thailand. A rate was not disclosed.
The ice-class, winterised vessel is a replacement for NYK’s 149,700-cbm Grace Barleria (built 2007), which is due to conclude its charter with Sakhalin Energy in the next few months. Ob River starts a charter with GM&T this autumn.
The vessel, which was named after one of the three main Siberian rivers that flow into the Arctic Ocean, is a sistership to two more Dynagas ships chartered in on mid-term deals by the Russian outfit.
Two newbuildings, which are expected to be named the Yenisei River and Lena River, are due to be delivered in 2013 and 2014.
Sakhalin Energy employs five LNG carriers. Three are on long-term charters with the project.
Four brokers working for shipbrokers Fearnleys in Asia have jumped ship to beef up LNG and offshore business for rival shop Clarksons.
The UK-headquartered giant lists Ella Bai, who formerly worked on LNG, offshore and S&P business with Fearnleys, as joining Clarksons’ gas team in London. Bai, who has previously worked with PetroChina, and three of her colleagues — believed to be Eric Li, Susan Wang and Jack Qiu — are expected to spend the next three months in the UK before moving out to Clarkson’s Shanghai office for the start of the New Year.
