Requirements to dry-dock around 30% of the trading VLGC fleet over the next 18 months could help support charter rates, according to Poten & Partners.

Speaking on a webinar, Poten LPG shipbroker Peter Stebbing said shipowners had attempted to obtain waivers so they could defer the five-year dry-dockings on their vessels but said this had met resistance from energy major charterers and along with certification issues.