LNG carriers bound for PNG LNG plant looking for new cargoes

The 7.5 magnitude earthquake that hit the Papua New Guinea Highlands last week caused a halt in loading at the PNG LNG facility, causing LNG carriers to look for cargoes elsewhere. 

An LNG carrier that was on its way to Papua New Guinea from Taiwan has changed its course and headed to Singapore, Reuters reports.

The 177,420 cbm Gigira Laitebo tanker was scheduled to load a cargo on March 6.

One more LNG carrier, the 145,400 cbm Pacific Arcadia was on course from Japan to Papua New Guinea but is now looking for a cargo.

According to the vessel tracking data by the marine data provider, VesselsValue, the Velikiy Novgorod LNG carrier capable of transporting 170,200 cubic meters of the chilled fuel is now heading in the away from the facility.

Reuters notes the tanker arrived from China.

To remind, the ExxonMobil-operated liquefied natural gas production plant was shut down following the earthquake on February 26, and according to the company’s latest update, it will take approximately eight weeks to repair and restart production at the plant.

LNG World News Staff