LNG carrier chartering and enquiry activity is up in what is traditionally a quieter time of the year.

Brokers report that the pool of available modern LNG tonnage has been reduced across all three key trading basins, with virtually no spot ships available in the Atlantic, and fewer than five open cold in both the Pacific and Middle East.

They comment that daily charter rates for modern, tri-fuel diesel-electric vessels are firmly in the range of $40,000 per day, with charterers now paying more towards ballast bonuses — a change from earlier this year when these were non-existent.