Tokyo Based Fund to Invest in LNG Carriers

Tokyo based fund operator Anchor Ship Partners is expected to launch 500 billion yen ($4.1 billion) fund to purchase LNG carriers and other large ships, with an eye on Japan's imports of North American shale gas starting as early as 2017, Nikkei Asian Review reported.

Anchor Ship Partners has already invested about 330 billion yen through two ship investment funds. Its vessels are currently used by such shipping companies as Nippon Yusen and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha.

According to Nikkei, the new fund will ask such investors as city and regional banks to put up money. It will sign leasing contracts with shipping companies for the large ships that it owns, with those leasing fees to be distributed to investors as dividends. 

With Japan’s shale gas imports expected to grow country’s large shipping companies are in expansion mode. Nippon Yusen intends to boost its fleet of LNG carriers by more than 30% to at least 100 ships by 2019 while Mitsui O.S.K. Lines is also moving to add to its fleet of LNG carriers, Nikkei reported.