GAC Group has highlighted the importance for liquefied natural gas (LNG) ship owners and operators to work with ship agents with specialist expertise and capabilities to meet the requirements of gas carriers and companies shipping and trading LNG cargoes.

GAC Group is a leading shipping, logistics and marine services provider.

Speaking ahead of the Gastech Conference & Exhibition that will take place in Singapore tomorrow (October 27), GAC Group has provided its insight into global growth patterns in the LNG shipping sector and the requirement for specialisation from ship agencies serving LNG vessels, said a statement.

Complying with regulatory, technical and operational requirements when making port calls requires specialist technical knowledge and training, it said.

Additionally, the LNG market has seen a growing number of smaller companies enter the market, often without the network of port-based support enjoyed by larger players, and requiring specific operational and commercial expertise to support port calls by gas carriers.

Christer Sjödoff, group vice president, commercial, said: “GAC has a long history of serving gas carriers, having handled over 10,000 LNG port calls in the past 10 years.”

“Large LNG and energy companies have historically dominated the LNG trade, but the growth in shale gas production has opened up the market to smaller companies,” he said.

“These companies have identified the commercial opportunity to trade gas cargoes, but without necessarily having the required LNG experience or support infrastructure,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service