Shell has signed fresh long-term charter deals for six LNG carrier newbuildings worth over $1bn with three shipowners, bringing its declared tally to 14 new vessels.

The energy major said its Shell Tankers (Singapore) division has signed separate agreements for two LNG ships with affiliates of Knutsen LNG. It signed up for charter deals for another two with Korea Line Corp and ICBC Financial Leasing, and the third pair of ships was chartered by institutional investors advised by JP Morgan Asset Management.