New data from Clarksons Research shows a big fall-off in overall vessel ordering, but LNG carrier deals have hit record highs.

In the first quarter, 259 newbuildings of 16.8m dwt and 9.2m cgt were contracted at global shipyards.

This is down 47% year-on-year in dwt terms.

But 37 LNG carriers of 6.1m cbm were ordered, the biggest quarterly number ever.