Far Eastern yards hoping for more LNG orders

LNG operators may place orders for new vessels at shipyards in China and South Korea as oil and gas majors including Exxon Mobil and Chevron approve multibillon-dollar ventures, a Drewry Maritime Services consultant said. Yards may get orders to build as many as 15 of these gas tankers this year, compared with none last year and six in 2008, if new LNG projects get approved this year, increasing demand for ships.