Canada's Teekay LNG Partners is expecting the global demand for LNG carriers to grow in long term. Teekay Gas Services president David Glendinning pointed to planned projects in the US, Russia, Tanzania, etc. and said they could require up to 100 LNG carriers.

The Flemish government and the port authorities of Antwerp, Zeebrugge, Ghent and Fluxys have published a feasibility study on LNG bunkering. DNV provided a market forecasting study, a regulatory analysis and modelled the LNG supply logistics. The Flemish government is now acting on DNV recommendations to ensure the safe introduction of LNG bunkering at Flemish seaports.

Expanded European sanctions against Iran approved Oct. 15 lack clarity as to whether exporting liquefied petroleum gas from the country remains legal, according to Clarkson, the largest shipbroker. Following are comments by Clarkson on the extended measures, taken from a report published by the shipbroker Oct. 19. Twenty LPG carriers departed the Iranian port of Assaluyeh since the first European sanctions took effect July 1, according to data compiled by Bloomberg from IHS Inc., an Englewood, Colorado-based researcher.

It has been a fairly quiet week (43) in terms of reported orders, Fearnleys Weekly reports. An exception being Chinese Yangfan who took an order for four handysize bulk carriers. In the secondhand market, Greeks have bought the "Max Schulte" tanker vessel for USD 8.65 million.

Russia's Gazprom Marketing & Trading has launched a tender for three ice-class LNG carrier newbuildings with shipowners. In a project code-named “Gaz Ice”, GM&T is said to have approached Greek shipowners Dynagas and Maran Gas Maritime, Japan's Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) and K Line, Russia’s SCF Group, etc.

Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded the ship management contracts for three TFDE 160,000 cu m capacity LNGCs belonging to Thenamaris LNG Inc. The vessels are due for delivery from Samsung Heavy Industries Co Ltd, Korea, in 2013, following which BSM will be responsible for the technical management, and supply of deck and engine personnel for the yet to be named fleet.

Greek owners slowed their secondhand purchases this week, while they are absent from newbuilding arena for three consecutive weeks. In the secondhand market, they purchased a tanker unit of 34,999dwt built 1999 China for $8,5mil and a very large LPG carrier of about 78,000cum built 1990 Japan for a price in the region of $10,6mil. In the newbuilding market, Tsakos group is said to be under discussions for a pair of shuttle suezmax newbuildings in Sungdong of South Korea, but the deal is not yet finalized.

Broker reports link Naftomar with the acquisition of Gas Leo (dwt 49.996 / blt 1990 Japan) for approximately USD 10.6 million. Furthermore, reports suggest Greek buyers have acquired the Tarnsjo (dwt 10.776 / blt 1993 Norway) tanker vessel for an undisclosed price.

Activity is picking up with 15 firm orders confirmed this week. One of the major car carrier operators, namely NYK, placed orders for 4xPCTCs at two Japanese shipyards, no price reported. The new size of about 7000 cars is with a post Panamax beam, exceeding the 32.2m standard. Although high activity this week, the newbuilding market is still slow, creating some worry among the shipbuilders.