The LNG industry has been changing in the past decades and there has been a shift from chartering LNG carriers on a long-term basis to a short- or mid-term basis.

A voyage charter is usually used for a single voyage in the spot market and voyage charters do exist for LNG (such as LNGVOY). However, the spot market for LNG cargoes is a recent new development and in practice many owners are still using time charters for short-term business. Reasons for the LNG industry's reluctance to use voyage charters are varied - one particular concern is how issues particular to LNG shipping can be addressed in voyage charters.

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