Citing a recent U.S. Department of Energy-commissioned study that supports export of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States (see Daily GPI, Dec. 6), Teekay LNG Partners LP said it has entered into an agreement with Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. Ltd. (DSME) of South Korea for the construction of two 173,400-cubic meter LNG tankers, with options to order up to three additional vessels. The partnership said it intends to secure long-term contract employment for both vessels prior to their delivery in the first half of 2016. “The delivery of these vessels is timed to coincide with the next wave of increased demand for LNG carriers, which is expected when a large number of new LNG export projects come on-stream commencing from late-2015,” said Teekay GP LLC CEO Peter Evensen. “They are also among the largest LNG carriers that will be able to transit the Panama Canal after its expansion project is complete, which makes them ideal for U.S. LNG exports.”

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