Stena Bulk has signed an agreement covering the charter of the LNG carrier Stena Blue Sky for the North West Shelf Project in Australia, the company said in its press release. The duration of the charter is up to three years with a possible further extension as a goal. The contract was signed at current market freight rates. The tanker will sail between Australia and Japan as well as other countries in the Far East.
The North West Shelf Project is Australia's largest oil and gas development and has delivered more than 4000 LNG cargoes to customers predominantly in the Asia Pacific region since 1989.
In addition to the Stena Blue Sky, Stena Bulk owns two modern Tri-Fuel Diesel Electric vessels. The Stena Crystal Sky, which is on a medium term charter until this autumn and the Stena Clear Sky which was recently redelivered from a three year charter. In 2011, Stena Bulk invested in the three LNG carriers from Taiwan-based TMT (Today Makes Tomorrow). All three carriers are ice-classed and winterised. Their commercial operation is handled by Stena Bulk's organisation in Gothenburg and the company's offices in Singapore and Houston are also active in this segment. Northern Marine Management is responsible for the technical operation.
Stena Bulk's three LNG carriers are the 145,500 cbm Stena Blue Sky (built in 2006) and the two 173,000 cbm sisters the Stena Clear Sky and the Stena Crystal Sky (built in 2011).