Dynagas LNG Partners, the owner of six LNG carriers which operate under long-term charters, reported a drop in its net income for the July-September period.
The NYSE-listed limited partnership formed by shipowner Dynagas posted a net income of $1.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023.
This marks a decrease of $6 million, or 81.1 percent, compared to the same period last year, the LNG shipper said in a statement.
Net income also dropped compared to $14.4 million in the prior quarter.
Dynagas LNG attributed this drop in net income mainly due to the increase in vessels’ operating expenses, as well as to the dry-docking and special survey costs attributable to the scheduled dry-docks of the company’s three LNG carriers.
The LNG shipping firm completed dry-docks for Yenisei River in August, and for Lena River and Arctic Aurora in September.
Dynagas LNG also attributed the drop in net profit to the decrease in interest rate swap gains and the increase in the interest and finance costs.
The company said that its adjusted net income decreased 31.1 percent to $3.1 million in the third quarter mainly due to increase of interest and finance costs compared to the corresponding period of 2022.
Voyage revenues for the three-month period reached $37 million, up by 23.7 percent compared to the same quarter last year.
Dynagas LNG said voyage revenues rose due to the increase in the non-cash deferred revenue amortization relating to the new time charter party agreement of Arctic Aurora with Equinor as well as the increase in available days of Amur River and Ob River.
The partnership reported gross of commissions of about $68,800 per day per vessel in the three-month period, compared to about $61,560 per day per vessel for the corresponding period of 2022.
The partnership’s vessels operated at 99.8 percent fleet utilization during the three-month period.
Also, vessel operating expenses were $10.6 million, which corresponds to a daily rate per vessel of $19,288 in the three-month period, as compared to $7 million, or a daily rate per vessel of $12,743, in the corresponding period of 2022.
This increase is mainly attributable to the increased engine overhauling costs on Arctic Aurora, Yenisei River, and Lena River incurred during the three-month period ending September 30, Dynagas LNG said.
Chief executive Tony Lauritzen said all six LNG carriers in the company’s fleet are operating under their respective long-term charters with international gas companies with an average remaining contract term of about 7.2 years.
“Barring any unforeseen events, the partnership will have no contractual vessel availability until 2028,” he said.
Lauritzen said the company’s estimated contract backlog currently stands at about $1.16 billion equating to some $193 million per vessel as of December 7, 2023.
He said Arctic Aurora was delivered under a new three-year time charter party agreement with Equinor in September, and “we expect her to continue to generate solid cash flow contribution to the partnership.”
“We strongly believe in the long term role of natural gas as a vital energy source. Part of its sustained demand stems from its comparatively low emission profile upon combustion and its capacity to generate power swiftly and effectively as and when needed,” he said.
“This is further supported by the existence of a well-developed global infrastructure facilitating its production, transportation, storage, and consumption,” Lauritzen said.
