A representative sample of Norway's shipping community took advantage of a royal visit last week to descend on China in an optimistic mood, signing contracts with local shipyards to construct vessels, and to furnish equipment and services.

But the most ambitious visitor of all may have been Hoegh LNG.

Company chief executive Sveinung Stohle told delegates at the Norway-China Business Summit that Hoegh LNG's 10 floating storage and regasification units currently on the water or under construction have a throughput capacity that would allow them to cover 70% of China's coastal import demand.