The vessels, with capacity between 30,000 and 90,000 cubic meters, are being tapped for delivery to smaller Asian buyers, who don’t require a full shipment of the fuel and might just have bare-bone infrastructure. Likewise, larger vessels, the backbone of the industry, can’t enter waters near cities where demand is emerging.
(June 9): The new Saga Dawn liquefied natural gas tanker shuttling between Singapore and Humen in eastern China is a sign that the fastest-growing fossil fuel is permeating into markets once thought inaccessible.
A so-called mid-sized tanker, the ship can travel up the Pearl River to access inland markets, extending LNG’s reach beyond traditional coastal facilities. The emerging trend could unlock access to cleaner-burning fuel for remote buyers, while helping exporters grow demand in new markets. And with LNG spot prices at record lows amid a global oversupply, it’s also a cheaper solution for end-users.
