Skangas performs first ever LBG bunker delivery

Liquefied biogas supplied to the Fure Vinga in Gothenburg.

Furetank Rederi's newbuild chemical tanker, the Fure Vinga, is able to run on both liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied biogas (LBG). Image credit: Skangas

Updated on 26 Jun 2018 09:31 GMT

Skangas reports that it supplied Furetank Rederi's recently launched Fure Vinga with liquefied biogas (LBG) during the vessel's recent call to Gothenburg. The LBG product was transported from the biogas facility of Skangas's parent company, Gasum, located in Lidkoping - aproximately 130 kilometres north-west of Gothenburg. The Fure Vinga was supplied with LBG via a truck-to-ship operation. In a statement, Skangas explained that, because both LNG and LBG mainly consist of methane gas, the existing LNG supply infrastructure can be used for the delivery of LBG without any modifications - meaning that the same trucks, ships, tanks and marine filling stations can be used for both products. Lars Hoglund, CEO of Furetank, commented: "Running vessels on liquefied natural gas is our contribution to a more environmentally friendly environment. We will, however, contribute by increasing the sustainability. Using liquefied biogas was a natural step in this direction." "No doubt LBG will be a clear option for us. It is proven by this operation that it can be available from our existing LNG supplier and not at least with the same quality as our current LNG fuel," Hoglund added. Tommy Mattila, sales and marketing director at Skangas, said: "This is the first time we are supplying LBG to a marine customer." "To be increasingly greener with renewable biogas is possible because we use the same infrastructure that we've built throughout northern Europe. This [means] that LNG and LBG will continue to walk hand in hand as the availability of LBG on the market is on the rise." The Fure Vinga was delivered in April and bunkered with LNG for the first time in Europe on May 19 - at the Spanish port of Cartagena. The vessel's maiden LNG delivery in Amsterdam was recently performed by Titan LNG. According to ship-tracking data, the Fure Vinga last departed from the port of Gothenburg during the early hours of June 26 and was heading for the Swedish port of Donso.