Despite a current lull in LNG prices and trading activity, shipping company Cool Co. Ltd. (CoolCo) expects the long-term focus on natural gas supply security to make independent vessel owners think twice about short-term commitments for this winter.

The Bermuda-based company recently reported in a market outlook that vessel owners could have more incentive to leave their vessels open for long-term commitments near the end of the decade, when a glut of new U.S. and Qatar volumes are expected to hit the market.

“As evidenced by a healthy market for three-plus year charters, owners appear reluctant to fix vessels for short durations covering only the most profitable winter months when a willingness to pay for floating storage peaks, preferring instead to secure coverage until the...