Chinese LNG trader Jovo is boosting its fleet with newbuildings and another chartered-in ship — but the company's final intentions on vessel ownership remain unclear.

This week, Jovo gave China’s Jiangnan Shipyard its first large-size LNG carrier order, confirming contracts for a pair of 80,000-cbm specialised-size newbuildings.

The so-called “Sino-Flex” ships, which will also be the first membrane-type vessels built by Jiangnan are due to be delivered in the second half of 2021.