Bulkers are much in focus and several buyers turning to Japan as Japanese yards are becoming competitive and offering latest eco design. Some Japanese yards can offer early deliveries in first half of 2015, whilst others only have openings well into 2016 and even 2017.

Hoegh LNG has secured a time charter contract for one of its LNG carriers. The Oslo-listed owner said the 126,400-cbm LNG Libra (built 1979) will be delivered to Gas Natural in Trinidad by the end of May upon completion of a scheduled dry docking in Brest, France.

StealthGas is being linked with the SAKURA SYMPHONY and SAKURA SERENITY, LPG carriers for USD 11.75 million and USD 11 million respectively (en bloc). Avin Oil has acquired tanker vessel MARIELLA AMORETTI in the secondhand market, according to latest broker reports. The price reported approaches USD 7.5 million. 

The case for LNG as a major bulk trade is compelling. Methane is a green fuel with vast onshore and offshore reserves stranded far from consumer markets. The technology to transport the gas as a liquid was developed in the 1940s and the first cargo shipped in 1959 from Lake Charles, USA to the UK on board a converted Liberty ship the Methane Pioneer. It's a natural.

GE's Power Conversion business announced it has been awarded new contracts for orders of electric power and propulsion systems on liquid natural gas (LNG) carriers and an LNG Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU). The equipment will be installed on a 162,000-cbm newbuilding ordered by Tsakos Energy Navigation and two 174,000-cbm units penned by Greek compatriot Maran Gas Maritime.

Greek owner Delta Tankers has placed an order for 2 (+1) tanker vessels at Hyundai Heavy Industries, according to Fearnleys Weekly. Delivery is slated for 2015 and the price reported is approximately USD 58 million. Overall, reported activity this week is well spread among various sectors - tankers, product tankers, bulkers, LNG, LPG, RoRo, and container. CSAV's order for seven 9300 teu container vessels, mentioned in this report in February, has now been finalized.

Demand to ship liquefied natural gas declined last quarter as export volumes shrank, according to RS Platou Markets AS, the investment-banking unit of Norway’s largest shipbroker.

Adoption of, and interest in, LNG-as-fuel for ships is gathering pace but challenge is as much in safe bunkering and port operations as in ship design: LNG bunkering guidance is one of the key subjects addressed in LR’s latest Gas Technology Report.

Samsung Heavy Industries of Korea announced on April 15 that it had inked an order for two 180,000㎥ LNG carriers with SK-Marubeni Joint Venture, a consortium between SK Shipping of Korea and a Japanese trading company Marubeni, for KRW 462.3bn (equating to $410m).