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EVOL LNG - part of Westfarmers Chemicals, Energy & Fertilisers - completed the first ever LNG bunker delivery at the Australian port of Fremantle on 19th February.

The Siem Offshore-owned Siem Thiima was supplied with LNG during a truck-to-ship delivery at the Western Australia port.

The platform supply vessel (PSV) was refuelled as part of an agreement between EVOL LNG and Woodside Energy - Australia's largest independent oil and gas company and a key LNG player in the country. It follows the first LNG bunker operation at the port of Dampier - also to the Siem Thiima - on 23rd January.

EVOL LNG's Business Manager, Nick Rea, sees the latest development as just the beginning. "Our decision to enter the LNG bunkering market is part of a long-term strategy that recognises environmental and economic sustainability of LNG as a transport fuel," Rea said.

"It also recognises that the LNG marine fuel market is still in development so the fact EVOL has over 15 years' experience in distributing LNG means we saw an opportunity to provide a suite of services that perhaps others can't.

"EVOL can safely manage the bunkering process plus provide key services such as training in safe handling of LNG, enabling our customers to confidently adopt LNG as a marine fuel.

"With growing demand for lower emission fuels over the past decade, we've seen the number of LNG-fuelled ships in operation worldwide increase steadily from a handful to more than 75, with an additional 80 expected to be built in the next three years," Rea remarked.

As previously reported, EVOL LNG was approved by Fremantle Ports to supply LNG-powered marine vessels in Fremantle last July. Since then, the company has secured its second major Australian port bunkering licence from Pilbara Ports Authority, permitting LNG bunkering at King Bay Supply Base and transport through the Port of Dampier.

EVOL LNG is also keen to extend its LNG supply service to other locations.

"It's certainly an offering we'd like to expand, particularly as truck-to-ship LNG bunkering can be achieved relatively inexpensively with existing logistics assets," Rea said.

"If interest is there, EVOL LNG will obtain licences from other major Australian and regional Western Australia ports to conduct LNG bunkering operations, and look at investing in infrastructure to meet the market's needs," Rea added.

In terms of pricing, EVOL LNG says it would be able to supply Fremantle customers with LNG at a price competitive with low-sulphur marine diesel.

The LNG-powered PSV Siem Thiima, previously named Siem Harmony, is one of three platform supply vessels being delivered to Siem Offshore with the VS 4411 DF design; the other two being the Siem Melody and the Siem Rhapsody. All three vessels are equipped with dual-fuel propulsion, allowing them to operate on LNG as well as marine gas oil (MGO).

The Siem Thiima is operating as part of the Woodside Energy fleet. It is the result of a five-year charter contract Woodside signed with Siem Offshore Australia Pty Ltd in April.

The Siem Thiima was also the first LNG-fuelled support vessel to be bunkered in Amsterdam in December.