Lng Price

Frozen Gas Market Heats Up

While seemingly miniscule in terms of deadweight tons ordered and delivered per year as compared to the shipbuilding business as a whole, the production of gas tankers, LNG and LPG, are high-value, high prestige orders that are likely to rise significantly in the coming years. Consistently high oil prices have effectively forced the production and processing of gas, and the current trend is towards increased usage of this valuable commodity. Late last month, the gas and power division of Royal Dutch/Shell ordered two additional liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers to support its growing global LNG business. Shell International Gas Limited ordered a membrane-type carrier from South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering and a moss spherical tank carrier from Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. While a price was not publicly disclosed at the time of the ordering, the market level for a typical LNG carrier is about $175 million. The two new vessels have been secured against the background of a growing portfolio of Shell LNG projects around the world which require shipping capacity and will help supply growing demand for LNG. In its annual market report, Norway R.S. Platou reports that in 2000 there was a "huge interest" in LNG tonnage, triggered by a range of new LNG projects and low newbuilding prices. Platou claims that there were reports of contracts as low as $140 million for 138,000 cu. m. ships, marking the lowest level since the late 1980s

South Korean Yards Expected To Nab 75 Percent of LNG Orders

South Korean shipyards are expected to win about 75 percent of an estimated 48 orders for liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers this year, industry officials said on Wednesday. "There are virtually no rivals to compete with Korean shipbuilders in making LNG carriers in terms of price and quality," said Yoo Jae-won, a spokesman for the Korea Shipbuilders' Association. Surging demand for environmentally friendly LNG was expected to raise the number of LNG carrier orders to around 48 this year

Oil Ministry Hopes to Get Iran LNG Contract

With the UN referral issue creating uncertainty about India's future relations with Iran, the Petroleum Ministry is fairly assured of the supply of five-million-ton contracted liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Iran. According to the Hindu Business Line, the 5 mt per annum LNG deal was legally binding, which ends speculations that the $20 billion LNG deal with Iran may be in trouble. The ongoing negotiations with Iran are for the additional 2.5 mt per annum

Governor Schwarzenegger Disapproves BHP Deepwater Port License

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued his formal disapproval to United States Maritime Administrator Sean T. Connaughton for the licensing of the BHP “Cabrillo Port” LNG deepwater port planned for construction off the coast of Ventura County, California. The Governor did however make it clear that he supports the state’s need for an increased LNG supply. Excerpts from the Governor’s letter follow: While I believe strongly that California needs to expand its access to natural

HHI Signs LNG Cargo Pump Deal

Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (HHI) signed a technical agreement for a cargo pump for LNG carriers with Carter Cryogenics of the U.S. The agreement was signed by Choi Weon-gil, COO of HHI¡¯s Engine & Machinery Division, and Mr. Lance A. Schroeder, vice president of Carter Cryogenics. The LNG carrier's cargo pump is a cryogenic pump at the bottom of containment tanks used to load and unload liquefied natural gas at -163oC. There are eight to ten pumps equipped on each LNG carrier

LNG Tanker Shipbuilders Avoid Slump

LNG tankers have avoided a slump in new ship prices because of rising Asian gas demand and limited competition from Chinese shipbuilders According to Bloomberg Business Week, prices for tankers able to hold 160,000 cubic meters of gas have held steady at about $202 million since 2010, based on Clarkson Plc data, bolstering earnings for South Korea-based Samsung Heavy Industries Co. and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., the biggest makers of the vessels.

$630m Drill Ship is Korea's Most Expensive Ship

The most expensive ship among the orders Korean shipbuilders have won this year is a $630m drill ship. Samsung Heavy Industries won a contract from Sweden in October to build the 97,000-ton drill ship, which is 228 m long and 19 m tall. In terms of price, the ship costs the equivalent of five 300,000-ton crude oil carriers (VLCCs) or two or three LNG ships. The next most expensive orders were also for drill ships, worth $550-590 million in second to fifth

Golar LNG Sells Newbuild

Golar LNG announced an agreement to sell its existing interest in new building DSME hull number 2244 to Maran Gas for $92.5m, this represents an implicit vessel price of $201 million. Golar estimates that its book cost of investment in this vessel at completion of the sale will be approximately $51.5 million and this transaction therefore represents a significant return on investment for shareholders.

Samsung Heavy Industries Building Two Golar LNG Carriers

Golar LNG Limited announces that  the Company  has entered into firm contracts with Samsung Heavy Industries Co. Ltd for a further two LNG carriers. The two additional vessels, each with a capacity of 160,000cbm have a combined total cost of slightly above $400 million. The first of the carriers is scheduled for delivery in the second quarter of 2014 and the second in early 2015. Subject to declaration deadlines

GDF Suez Further Develops LNG Bunkering

Small scale LNG: GDF Suez takes positions in this high potential market with capacities in Zeebrugge, Belgium, LNG terminal. GDF Suez continues to develop its small scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) activities in North West Europe following the award by Fluxys of additional berthing and storage capacity long term rights at the Zeebrugge LNG terminal. GDF Suez will have access to these capacities after the completion of the second jetty being constructed by Fluxys (expected in 2015)