ABSTRACT
This chapter highlights the expansion of natural gas industry throughout the world as well as the emergence of Indian Ocean as one of the gateways for liquid natural gas (LNG) transshipment. The minimal impact from its production, shipment and regasification on environment and human health are factors that have increased the demand for natural gas. The increase in world natural gas demand is based on total gas reserves of each exporter country. The growing demand from the Middle East countries, mainly Qatar, is due to the new entrants of India and China in market. A large demand can be seen in the Atlantic Basin followed by the Pacific Basin and Middle East. LNG carriers are specially designed with a double hull to provide optimum protection for the cargo and ship's crew in the event of collision or gas leakage. Recent trends in LNG trade movement have shown a change in trade flows from traditional intra-regional trade to inter-regional trade.
