Image: Gasum

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Gasum has expanded its supply network to France following the firm's recent bunker delivery to cruise operator Ponant.

On September 24, Gasum supplied LNG to Le Commandant Charcot, Ponant's latest LNG-powered newbuild polar explorer, at the port of Le Havre. The operation was Gasum's first LNG delivery in France after securing a licence to distribute LNG in French ports and waters on February 17.

Le Commandant Charcot, named after the renowned French polar scientist and explorer Jean-Baptiste Charcot, is the first hybrid-electric polar exploration ship powered by LNG. This unique polar exploration vessel is the latest addition to Ponant's fleet and is due to operate in the Arctic and Antarctic regions.

Commenting on the news, Hervé Gastinel, CEO of Ponant, said: "We have been working on this natural gas-powered polar exploration ship project for six years and this is already the second liquefied natural gas bunkering operation we have carried out with Gasum since the delivery of the ship on July 29.

"These LNG bunkering operations represent the culmination of several years of analysis, engineering and testing to perform these operations safely and with maximum efficiency.

"The ship reached the Geographic North Pole for the first time on September 6 using natural gas throughout its journey. We are fully satisfied and particularly proud of the technical innovations developed on this ship that have enabled us to achieve this exceptional performance."

Jacob Granqvist, Vice President Maritime at Gasum, remarked: "This delivery marks an important step in our cooperation with Ponant and I am proud to support Ponant in reducing their emissions. At the same time, we expand our delivery network to a port as significant as Le Havre. Our services for maritime operators all over Europe are becoming even more relevant in the light of the requirements of the EU's recent 'Fit for 55' climate package proposal."