Four new LNG carriers were delivered by South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) in the first four days of this year, following slow deliveries last month.

Norwegian shipowner Flex LNG took receipt of its 173,400m³ Flex Freedom on 1 January from DSME, having been delayed from late November, and was heading south in the Philippine Sea today. The carrier is declaring for arrival for 11 January, likely at an Australian export terminal. Flex LNG has not announced a term charter for the carrier.

The owner has two more carriers on its orderbook, scheduled for delivery in February and May this year from South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries.

The 173,400m³ Energy Endeavour — owned by Greek shipowner Alpha Gas — also departed DSME's Okpo yard on 1 January, increasing the owner's fleet to three LNG carriers. Alpha Gas in September last year added the newbuild 173,400m³ Energy Pacific to its 155,000m³ Energy Atlantic carrier.

Alpha Gas also has two more carriers on its orderbook, all with DSME and scheduled for delivery in April and June this year.

And Greek shipowner Minerva Gas received its first LNG carrier as the 173,400m³ Minerva Psara left DSME's Okpo yard this morning, declaring for arrival at the Panama Canal on 26 January. The owner has four more carriers scheduled for delivery in February, April and September 2021 and in March next year.

The 173,400m³ Global Star — owned under a joint venture between Greek Maran Gas Maritime and Qatari Nakilat — also was delivered today from Okpo, Qatari shipowner Nakilat said. The venture already received a carrier from DSME in May last year and is set to receive two more carriers from the shipbuilder.

But newbuild deliveries were much slower in December, with only the 174,000m³ Dorado LNG — owned by Greece's TMS Cardiff Gas — having been received from shipbuilders over the month, the fewest number since March after a period of quick deliveries in the second half of that year.

Additions to the global LNG fleet are set to remain quick over the first quarter of this year, with a further 16 carriers slated for delivery over the period. Four carriers were delivered in the first quarter of 2020.

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