The partners have doubled their orderbook at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries
to eight large LNG carriers after options covering four ships were exercised on
substantially similar terms to the original contracts.
The newbuildings, each with a capacity of about 200,000 cu m, are backed
by long-term charter agreements with Cheniere Marketing International, a unit
of Cheniere Energy. NYK and Ocean
Yield first unveiled the LNG carrier programme late last year, ordering four
ships with options for an additional four units. The vessels were positioned
for multi-year employment with Cheniere, with the charter arrangements
confirmed in February. The expansion
marks a further deepening of ties between the partners and Cheniere, while for
NYK, the agreement represents its first long-term LNG carrier charter deal with
the US producer.