Nigeria LNG (NLNG) interests have contacted shipowners to determine their interest in taking on some of their existing tonnage and teaming up with them on new vessels.

Shipowners said the approach was made some time ago by state-controlled Nigerian National Petroleum Corp (NNPC), which is the lead shareholder in NLNG.

Owners said NNPC has been ­seeking interest from companies looking to team up with its liquefaction ­producer on the co-ownership of modern LNG carriers or ­newbuildings.