QatarEnergy, which owns the world’s largest fleet of LNG carriers, has selected Nakilat (Qatar Gas Transport Company Limited) to own and operate up to 25 new LNG carriers of 174,000m3 to be built at shipyards in South Korea.
On the eve of Star Bulk Carriers’ full year results the Houthi Movement has launched a missile attack on the Star Iris, a panamax bulk carrier, in the Bab al-Mandeb straits, off Yemen.
Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have driven a significant change in voyage patterns for products tankers on the trade between Middle East Gulf/India and Europe.
South Korean shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) has secured a contract to construct 15 LNG carriers for KRW4.57 trillion ($3.44 billion).
There is a risk of congestion post Chinese New Year as crises in the Red Sea and Panama converge, but insurers played down a potential flashpoint in the Taiwan Strait.
A kamsarmax bulker and a general cargo ship have been damaged in the Red Sea by apparent Houthi attacks.
Houthi attacks on shipping in the Southern Red Sea have seen many ship operators rerouting vessels via the Cape of Good Hope, but despite the risk others have continued to send vessels through the region.