A New York investor has taken a significant stake in Navigator Holdings.

According to regulatory filings, Neil Gagnon of Gagnon Securities and Gagnon Advisors now owns 2.98m shares in the Harry Deans-led gas carrier owner, the second-highest position in the company after WLR Group's 21.8m shares.

The holding represents 5.3% of the company and sees him leapfrog former chief executive David Butters and his 3.1%