Spot Fixture Activity: Mid-Year Wrap Up

July 3 2017: Six months ago, we wrote our first opinion discussing the growing liquidity of LNG shipping spot market fixture activity (16-Jan-17: “Liquid Growth”). The number of spot fixtures, defined as a charter of 180 days or less, grew significantly between 2014 and 2016 as a large number of speculatively ordered newbuild vessels were delivered without term charter business. In January 2014, around 14 vessels were competing for spot employment. By the end of 2016 the number had grown to 35. Today, the number stands at 44 vessels, however the recent growth is because existing vessels have come off term charters, not speculative newbuilding deliveries. Please fill out the following form to access the full article.