Japan’s Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK), together with Norwegian shipleasing player Ocean Yield, has locked in long-term charter contracts for a series of new liquefied natural gas carriers with US LNG heavyweight Cheniere.
The fixture confirms market talk that emerged in December when NYK and Ocean Yield revealed plans for a firm quartet of LNG carrier newbuildings. Cheniere Marketing International, a wholly owned unit of Cheniere Energy, will take the ships on long-term employment once delivered.
The 200,000 cu m vessels will be built at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea, with deliveries scheduled from 2028.
For NYK, the deal marks its first long-term LNG carrier charter agreement with Cheniere, further strengthening ties between Japanese tonnage providers and US LNG exporters as long-term shipping capacity continues to be locked in ahead of new liquefaction projects coming on stream.
NYK and Ocean Yield announced the LNG carrier newbuilding programme late last year, positioning the vessels for multi-year employment with top-tier charterers, as demand for modern, fuel-efficient LNG tonnage continues to grow. The programme covers four newbuilds, with options in place for a further four units.
