Lng Shipping News

Supertanker costs in the Middle East have hit all-time highs, according to shipping data and industry sources on Tuesday, as the U.S.-Iran conflict intensifies with Tehran attacking ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.Shipping through the Strait between Iran and Oman, which carries around one-fifth of oil consumed globally as well as large quantities of liquefied natural gas, has ground to a near halt after vessels in the area were hit as Iran retaliated against U.S. and…

Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV) announced the launch of its Gas Center of Excellence in Doha, Qatar, strengthening its commitment to supporting the continued growth of LNG and gas projects worldwide. The Center brings together BV’s expertise in gas carrier operations, classification, and regulatory compliance to deliver integrated, future-ready support across the gas value chain.Staffed by a team of gas specialists with experience in gas carrier operations, both for new building phases and for vessels in service…

The UP World LNG Shipping Index gained 4.05% last week, closing at 182.36 points and exceeding the 180-point mark for the first time in its history. The S&P 500 rose 0.3% over the same period.Trading activity was robust, with volume well above average and a 15:4 ratio of rising to falling stocks. Several companies broke through resistance levels on strong volume, led by COSCO Shipping Energy Transportation (+10.6%) and Chevron (+6.1%). Shell, BP, Tsakos Energy Navigation, and Nakilat all moved above their respective resistance levels.Atlantic spot charter rates continued declining to $11…

After several years of volatility, 2025 became the year the global shipping markets began to reset. Not collapse—but recalibrate.According to Veson Nautical’s 2025 End-of-Year Market Report, the past year was defined by persistent geopolitical disruption, tightening environmental regulation and growing uncertainty over future fuel pathways. Red Sea instability continued to distort global trade flows, FuelEU Maritime and EU ETS added cost and complexity, and owners across nearly every sector adopted a more cautious stance toward fleet expansion.As the industry enters 2026…

On December 3, a joint venture company comprising NYK, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, MISC, and China LNG Shipping (Holdings) Limited held a naming ceremony for two new 174,000cbm LNG carriers for QatarEnergy.The ceremony was held at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea. One vessel was named “Sharq” after an area east of Doha, Qatar’s capital, while the other was dubbed “Shra’ouh” after a Qatari island.The two vessels will be the seventh and eighth of 12 new LNG carriers ordered by the joint venture company for QatarEnergy, the world’s largest LNG providers.

Flex LNG Ltd. reported steady third-quarter results for 2025, with a continued focus on maintaining its modern fleet of 13 large LNG carriers at peak operational and financial efficiency.Vessel operating revenues held firm at $85.7 million, with an average Time Charter Equivalent (TCE) rate of $70,921 per day across the fleet. The company reported net income of $16.8 million and adjusted EBITDA of $61.2 million, reflecting stable performance despite a sluggish start to the winter LNG shipping season.Fleet activity remained high during the quarter.

A new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, Elisa Halcyon, ordered by France LNG Shipping SAS from Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries in Korea, was completed and delivered on October 31. The vessel will be chartered on a long-term basis (up to 20 years) to EDF LNG Shipping SAS for LNG transportation under the ship management of Gazocean.Elisa Halcyon is equipped with a WinGD-manufactured dual-fuel slow-speed diesel engine capable of operating on fuel oil and boil-off gas (natural gas vaporized during transport).

Qatar Gas Transport Company Q.P.S.C. (Nakilat) announced its financial results for the third quarter of 2025 which ended September 30, 2025, with a net profit of USD$360 million (QAR 1.31 billion), compared to USD$352 million (QAR 1.28 billion) for the same period in 2024, an increase of 3.0%. This result underscores Nakilat’s strong operational resilience and strategic discipline in a dynamic global LNG shipping environment.Key financial highlights for the third quarter of 2025:Achieved a net profit of USD$360 million (QAR 1.31 billion)…

Malaysia’s MISC Group and its consortium partners NYK, K-Line, and China LNG Shipping (Holdings) have taken delivery of two new-generation liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, the Mihzem and Idd Al Shargi, marking another milestone in QatarEnergy’s LNG fleet expansion program.Built by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, the two carriers are the fifth and sixth vessels in the consortium’s 12-vessel series and the first to be managed by MISC’s Marine Services arm. The delivery underscores…

Technology group Wärtsilä has signed a 15-year Lifecycle Agreement covering three LNG carriers for China LNG Shipping (International) (CLSICO).The agreement is designed to ensure operational reliability, enable flexibility in maintenance scheduling and optimize the ‘time between overhauls’ (TBO) for each of the vessels.The three vessels that will be covered by the agreement are the Al TUWAR, Al MAS’HABIYYAH, and FAT'H AL KHAIR.They are approximately 300 meters in length and have a capacity of 174,000 m3.

DNV and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the development and verification of an optimized 200,000 cubic meter liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier.The new design aims to deliver improved operational efficiency and enhanced terminal compatibility compared to previous vessel designs.Under the agreement, DNV will carry out design verification of HD HHI’s streamlined LNG carrier, focusing on ensuring higher efficiency…

The 174,000 cubic meter capacity LNG carrier Al Zuwair has been delivered from the HHI Ulsan Shipyard of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and will be deployed under a time-charter contract with QatarEnergy. The vessel will be managed by the NYK Group.Al Zuwair is the third of 12 new LNG carriers being built for QatarEnergy by a joint venture comprising NYK, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, MISC Berhad, and China LNG Shipping (Holdings) Limited.This delivery marks the first of these vessels built at HHI.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has held a naming ceremony for the newbuilding very large crude carrier (VLCC) Energia Viking for Equinor, at the Dalian COSCO KHI Ship Engineering shipyard in China.The Energia Viking is the first LNG dual-fuel VLCC delivered by the MOL Group and sailing under a charter contract with Equinor.The vessel is equipped with an LNG fuel tank with a capacity exceeding 10,000m3, enabling long-distance transportation and allowing for flexible transport plans.In addition…

Woodside Energy's decision last month to proceed with its Louisiana LNG export facility was the first of over 90 million tonnes of new LNG shipping capacity U.S. companies plan to approve this year despite uncertainty about President Donald Trump's trade war, according to company statements and analysts.The U.S., already the world's largest exporter of the superchilled gas with 91.3 million tonnes of annual capacity, should triple that before 2030 thanks to projects awaiting final investment decisions.

TMC Compressors (TMC) has secured orders for complete marine compressed air systems for 12 liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessel newbuilds and one floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) unit.As part of the first order, Hanwha Ocean picked TMC to deliver the marine compressed air system to 12 LNG vessels the South Korean shipbuilder is constructing for an undisclosed LNG shipping major.Under the contract, TMC will supply a complete system consisting of control and service air compressors, to each of the 12 vessels.

A joint venture, comprising NYK, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, MISC Berhad, and China LNG Shipping (Holdings), has held a naming ceremony for a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier for QatarEnergy, the first of 12 being built for the state-owned energy company of Qatar.The ceremony was held at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) in China, and the vessel was named Al Tuwar, after the name of a hill in Al Wakrah, a major city in Qatar.The 174,000 m3 vessel is the first of a series of 12 LNG carriers that the joint venture company will build for QatarEnergy…

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipping company Flex LNG has informed its chief executive officer (CEO) Øystein Kalleklev resigned from the role.Kalleklev joined Flex LNG in October 2017 and was appointed CEO the following year.Following Kelleklev’s resignation, the company’s board has appointed Marius Foss, chief commercial officer, as interim CEO.Kalleklev will remain available in an advisory capacity until end of the third quarter to ensure a smooth transition period.“On behalf of the Board…

Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat) has held a steel cutting ceremony for eight of its new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers at Hanwha Ocean shipyard in the Republic of Korea.These vessels are part of Qatar’s historic LNG fleet expansion project, aimed at meeting the maritime transport needs of the LNG sector.In February 2024, Nakilat signed agreements with QatarEnergy to charter and operate 25 conventional-size LNG carriers, making Nakilat both the owner and operator of the vessels…

Nigeria's state oil firm NNPC announced a joint venture with Swedish tanker giant Stena Bulk and Nigerian offshore logistics leader Caverton Marine to overhaul maritime transportation in West Africa.The newly formed company will streamline crude oil, refined products and LNG shipping across West Africa and cater to other oil producers and traders in the region with modern vessels.The companies did not share financial details of the deal, which was signed last week."By combining our expertise with Stena Bulk and Caverton Marine, we are creating a robust platform that will enhance our domestic r

The UP World LNG Shipping Index (UPI) rose 0.67% to 168.40 points, while markets remained quiet despite geopolitical shifts made by the new U.S. administration, reports UPI analyst Tomas Novotny. “This can potentially increase LNG market competition, leading to lower prices but higher sales.”The UPI saw moderate growth, with Awilco LNG (+9.1%), BP (+8.5%), and Cool Company (+6.8%) among the top gainers, while Tsakos Energy (-5.2%) and Capital Clean Energy (-4.9%) declined. Many stocks are nearing key resistance levels, hinting at possible breakouts.

Golar LNG Limited sold the 2003 built steam turbine LNG carrier, Golar Arctic for $24 million before transaction-related expenses, wit the transaction expected to close, and the vessel is to be handed over to its new owner within Q1 2025. Following the vessel sale, Golar will have fully exited its legacy shipping business.The LNG carrier Fuji LNG discharged its final cargo as an LNG carrier in January 2025 and has now arrived in China, preparing to enter the CIMC shipyard for…

Flex LNG Ltd. released its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024, reporting a robust performance amid a challenging LNG shipping market.Flex LNG posted vessel operating revenues of $90.9 million for the fourth quarter, a slight increase from $90.5 million in the third quarter. Net income surged to $45.2 million, significantly up from $17.4 million in the previous quarter, translating into basic earnings per share of $0.84 compared to $0.32 in Q3.The company reported an average Time Charter Equivalent (TCE) rate of $75…

Earlier this month the liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier Elisa Ardea was delivered. The vessel is owned by France LNG Shipping, a joint venture between NYK and Geogas LNG, and under a long-term charter contract with EDF LNG Shipping. The vessel was built at Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries.Elisa Ardea will be chartered to the EDF Group long-term (up to 20 years, including extension options) and will be engaged in LNG transportation under the ship management of Gazocean, a French ship-management company.Elisa Ardea is propelled by…