Le Havre's roll-on/roll-off terminal completed its first ship-to-ship (STS) liquefied natural gas bunkering operation on August 28, marking the facility's entry into the alternative marine fuel supply market.

The 12-hour operation saw TotalEnergies-chartered vessel Gas Agility (135m x 24m) deliver 2,400 cbm of LNG to the Lake Travis (200m x 38m) during commercial operations at the French port.

The bunkering involved multiple stakeholders including port teams, terminal handlers, TotalEnergies, maritime agency Humann & Taconet, Eastern Pacific Shipping, V-Ships France, and crews from both vessels.

The operation follows Haropa Port's award of "LNG Ready Terminal" certification to the facility on June 18. The label, according to the port authority, certifies that the terminal has standardized practices for accommodating LNG-fuelled vessels by adapting safety policies, staff skills, and providing visitor information.

Since receiving certification, the Le Havre terminal can conduct bunkering operations by truck or ship in accordance with recommendations from the International Association of Ports and Harbors Alternative Fuels Working Group.

Haropa Port, which comprises the ports of Le Havre, Rouen and Paris and is ranked as the leading port for foreign trade in France, noted that the new capacity addresses growing shipowner requirements for energy transition and strengthens the port's position as an LNG bunkering hub.