John Fredriksen-controlled Flex LNG is optimistic about fixing LNG carriers that are next to come open at stronger rates, with the first vessels due to come offhire in the opening half of 2027.

Speaking on a third-quarter results call, Flex LNG chief executive Oystein Kalleklev said the company’s 174,000-cbm Flex Ranger (built 2018) is the outfit’s first available vessel and will be fully open at the end of the first quarter of 2027.