Four LNG carrier newbuildings destined for Japanese utility companies are close to being contracted at domestic shipyards in a couple of months.
Industry sources say Japanese owners NYK and MOL are poised to go ahead with orders for 160,000-cbm LNG carriers on behalf of two utility companies.
MOL is expected to contract two ships for Kansai Electric Co, one of which will be built at Kawasaki Heavy Industries and the other at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). The company is also expected to build one ship at MHI for charter to Chubu Electric Co.
Compatriot owner NYK, working in partnership with Mitsubishi Corp, is believed to be backing at least one other vessel for Chubu at MHI.
Including these four vessels, Japanese utilities are expected to need up to 10 newbuildings to lift the new volumes they are buying from upcoming liquefaction projects.
In particular, they will require vessels for the Ichthys LNG and Wheatstone LNG projects in Australia.