LNG Tanker Charter
LNG tankers carry natural gas cooled to a liquid. They are sized by cargo tank capacity, so a request for an LNG tanker is described in cubic metres.
What LNG tankers carry
Liquefied natural gas, which is natural gas cooled to about minus 162 degrees Celsius so that it takes far less space. It is carried in insulated cargo tanks. Small LNG carriers also serve regional trades and ship fuelling.
Capacity is stated in cbm
Gas carriers are measured by cargo tank capacity in cubic metres (cbm) rather than by deadweight. When you post a request on Shipfixing you give the cargo tank capacity you need, and DWT is optional. Conventional LNG carriers are often in the range of about 150,000 to 180,000 cbm, while small-scale ships are much smaller.
How LNG tankers are chartered
Time charters are common, and a voyage charter is used for single cargoes. Tell ship operators the cargo, the loading and discharging ports, the laycan and the capacity range you can accept.
How an LNG carrier works
LNG is natural gas cooled to about minus 162 degrees Celsius, when it becomes a liquid that takes up about 600 times less space. LNG carriers have insulated tanks of two main types, membrane tanks built into the hull and independent spherical tanks. A small part of the cargo evaporates on the voyage and is used as fuel. Modern ships carry about 170,000 cubic metres, and smaller ships serve smaller terminals.
Charter types
Most LNG carriers work on long time charters of several years for gas producers and buyers. Spot voyages exist and have grown, but the market is smaller than in oil. A charterer who needs a ship for one cargo should say so early and give the loading and discharging terminals, the quantity and the dates.
Terminals
LNG is loaded at liquefaction terminals and discharged at regasification terminals or onto floating storage units. Both have strict rules for the ship size, the tank type and the approval of the ship. Ask the ship operator whether the ship is approved for your terminals.
Search LNG tankers
Shipfixing connects charterers and ship operators. We scan for suitable ships. Voyage requests for ships below 10,000 DWT need no signup and no membership.
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