Articles tagged Shipping

The U.S. Treasury Department has targeted sanctions against more Russian-linked LNG vessels and companies days after satellite images and ship tracking data indicated PAO Novatek could be amassing a shadow fleet to export cargoes from its Arctic LNG 2 project.

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) is offering more opportunities for shippers to outbid each other for a dwindling number of transit slots on the drought-impacted waterway, but most U.S. LNG traders appear to be avoiding the route altogether.

LNG cargoes in floating storage are stacking up to near-record levels once again ahead of the heating season as the spot market becomes a more crucial part of the early winter cycle.

QatarEnergy has placed another large order for new LNG vessels as it continues to build out its shipping fleet ahead of a massive expansion in its liquefaction capacity that’s expected to come online later this decade.

The recent arrival of France’s first floating regasification and storage unit (FSRU) at the port of  Le Havre comes as high gas stocks and a rebound in nuclear power output have limited the country’s need for natural gas. 

The Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) on Friday issued a final rule extending the suspension of LNG transports by rail car through June 2025, ensuring no shipments occur until a companion rulemaking is finalized. 

A collision of two vessels in the Suez Canal hasn’t disrupted LNG traffic between the Atlantic and Pacific basins, but slight delays on the critical waterway could help add to shipping times as U.S. cargoes continue to shift from the Panama Canal.

More U.S. LNG cargoes are taking longer and costlier routes to reach consumers in Asia as a drought impacting levels at the Panama Canal has increased wait times to transit the waterway.

Editor’s Note: This column is part of a regular series by industry veteran Brad Hitch for NGI’s LNG Insight dedicated to addressing the complexities of the global natural gas market.

Despite a current lull in LNG prices and trading activity, shipping company Cool Co. Ltd. (CoolCo) expects the long-term focus on natural gas supply security to make independent vessel owners think twice about short-term commitments for this winter.