On the 8th TradeWinds Shipping China, insiders points out that the LNG supply in China is likely to see shortage due to the lack of relevant infrastructure. Chinese government is encouraging domestic shipowners into the LNG transport market for about 65 LNG carriers are predicted to be demanded by 2015. Chinese shipyards are to embrace great opportunities.
Statistics show that about 77 LNG carriers are on orderbook globally and 43 are speculative orders with no confirmed terminal clients. The application of LNG in China is likely to bring about great opportunities globally.
It is predicted 31,000,000 CBM LNG is to be consumed by 2015 in China. Great numbers of fixed or floating storage units are to be constructed to store the big volume. As for LNG-fueled ships, DNV forecasts new orders for the ship type are to be as many as 500 vessels by 2015 and up to 1,000 by 2020.
Some expert predicts that 10 LNG terminals will be built in three years in China, one of which is to be FSRU. FSRU, which could realize “ship-to-ship” LNG transport and distribute the regasified LNG to land by pipelines, can be converted from LNG carriers currently to save time and cost. Global shipyards and owners are all active in LNG carrier conversion and CNOOC has put such conversion on its schedule to cope with the growing LNG demand in China.
Currently, the LNG supply is mainly based on pipelines in China and the nation is trying to make breakthrough in relevant technologies such as LNG carrier transport.
At the same time, Chinese government is supposed to make more endeavors in river safety management while developing LNG carriers and LNG-fueled ships.