Maran Gas Apollonia, the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker to transit the expanded Panama Canal last month, has become the first to arrive in China with a cargo of US LNG.
The vessel, which is chartered to Shell, left Cheniere Energy’s Sabine Pass LNG facility in Louisiana approximately four weeks ago and went through the Canal’s expensive new locks on July 26.
It arrived at the port of Yantian in Shenzhen near Hong Kong on Monday.
China, Japan and South Korea are prime target markets for US LNG exporters and the Canal opens up the possibility of faster, more cost-effective journeys.
US LNG exports from the lower 48 states began in February.
