New Fortress secures new FSRU for Old Harbour LNG

US firm New Fortress Energy has secured a charter for a new floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) at its Old Harbour LNG import facility in Jamaica.

New Fortress signed a 10-year charter agreement with Norwegian shipowner Hoegh LNG for the 144,300m³ Hoegh Gallant FSRU, starting in the fourth quarter of this year, Hoegh LNG said.

The vessel will replace Old Harbour's existing 125,000m³ Golar Freeze FSRU, which received its first cargo in January 2019, data from oil analytics firm Vortexa show. Jamaica's second LNG import terminal, the Montego Bay facility, is also owned by New Fortress.

Jamaican LNG imports rose to 497,900t of LNG in January-August, up from 331,800t a year earlier, Vortexa data show.

The Hoegh Gallant previously operated as an import facility in Egypt under a charter contract with state-owned firm Egas running until April 2020, but was released in October 2018 after the shipowner agreed to amend the terms of the original contract, enabling the vessel to be redeployed as an LNG carrier. The vessel had been operating as an LNG carrier on the short-term charter market this year.

By Ellie Holbrook