The first LNG vessel through the expanded Panama Canal will be laden with US LNG, according to Platts trade flow software cFlow.
The Maran Gas Apollonia is currently loading a cargo from the Cheniere-operated Sabine Pass liquefaction facility on the US Gulf Coast.
According to the Panama Canal Authority, the vessel is expected to enter the Atlantic side of the canal on July 25. This is one day before the British Merchant -- which was previously expected to be the first LNG vessel to make the voyage -- is scheduled to enter the port of Cristobal one day later on July 26.
The Maran Gas Apollonia is long-term chartered to Shell, which has an annual offtake of 3.5 million mt from Sabine Pass Train 1.
The final destination of the cargo remained unclear, as Shell has multiple supply contracts in the Pacific Basin.
These include a contract with the Chilean state oil company, ENAP, which Shell has been using offtake from Sabine Pass to supply since June 2016.
Shell declined to comment on the matter.
