Norwegian shipping firm Flex LNG, the owner of 13 liquefied natural gas carriers, reported higher revenue in the second quarter, while its net income dropped compared to the same period last year.
Vessel operating revenues were $86.7 million for the April-June period, up from $84.2 million in the second quarter last year.
However, vessel operating revenues dropped when compared to $92.5 million in the prior quarter, the shipping firm controlled by billionaire John Fredriksen said on Wednesday.
The company’s second-quarter net income of $39 million dropped compared to $44.2 million in the same quarter last year but it rose compared to $16.5 million in the prior quarter.
Average time charter equivalent (TCE) rate was $77,218 per day in the second quarter of 2023, compared to $80,175 per day for the first quarter and $71,000 per day in the second quarter last year.
Flex LNG declared a dividend for the second quarter of $0.75 per share.
Cheniere declares option
Flex LNG has 12 LNG carriers on fixed hire time charters, including to US LNG exporter Cheniere, and one ship, Flex Artemis, on a variable time charter.
In March, Flex LNG completed its refinancing process, boosting the company’s cash position by $382.4 million.
According to Flex LNG, Cheniere declared its first option period for the 2021-built Flex Vigilant, which extended the firm charter period by additional 200 days.
The charter is now scheduled to expire in the second quarter of 2031.
The company’s fleet has 95 percent contract coverage in 2024, depending on charterers’ decision to utilize their extension option for Flex Constellation.
Flex LNG’s backlog for its time charters is for an aggregate of 54 years, which may increase to 80 years with declaration of charterer’s options, it said.
Flex LNG CEO Øystein Kalleklev said in the report the the company’s revenues came in $2.5 million higher than the second quarter last year despite the firm having three ships off-hire during the quarter for their scheduled 5-year special survey in dry-dock.
In the six months ended June 30, Flex LNG completed four drydockings for the 2018-built vessels: Flex Enterprise, Flex Endeavour, Flex Ranger, and Flex Rainbow.
Flex LNG will have two drydockings in 2024, four drydockings in 2025, three drydockings in 2026, and no drydockings in 2027.
Revenue to rise
Following the completion of the drydockings, Flex LNG expects its revenue to grow as “we will have all thirteen ships on water and will benefit from a stronger spot market which should boost the earnings from the variable hire time charter for Flex Artemis,” Kalleklev said.
“Consequently, we are reiterating the revenue guidance provided in February where we guided revenues of $90-95 million for the third quarter and $90-100 million for the fourth quarter,” he said.
“In sum this is expected to add up to approximately $370 million of revenues for the year, also in line with our guidance,” Kalleklev said.