Fri 18 Oct 2019 13:04

Total launches huge-capacity LNG bunker vessel


Ship to supply CMA CGM's ultra-large newbuild boxships as part of 3m-tonne agreement.


Image: Total
Total has announced the launch of its new LNG bunker vessel, which is due to begin operating in northern Europe next year.

The 18,600-cubic-metre-capacity ship trumps the capacity of the world's first purpose-built LNG bunkering vessel, Gas4Sea's Engie Zeebrugge, which operates in the north European port of Zeebrugge and has the capacity to hold up to 5,000 cubic metres (cbm).

It also beats the 7,500-cbm capacity of the Kairos gas supply vessel developed by Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) and Babcock International Group, which is chartered by LNG bunker supplier Nauticor and also operates in north Europe.

With this vessel, bunker arm Total Marine Fuels Global Solutions (TMFGS) intends to focus on supplying LNG to the container ship segment, including those sailing on the Europe-Asia trade. In particular, it is to be used to supply CMA CGM's newbuild LNG mega-container ships. TMFGS signed a 10-year, 300,000-tonne-per-annum supply contract with the boxship operator in December 2017.

The 135-metre-long vessel is described as being highly manoeuvrable, designed to operate safely in harbours and terminals, and built to meet the highest environmental standards through the use of LNG as fuel and a complete reliquefaction of the boil-off gas.

It is built by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding in China and fitted with the Mark III membrane containment system provided by French tank specialist GTT.

TMFGS signed a long-term contract with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) to charter the ship in early 2018. The vessel is to be managed by MOL (Europe Africa) Ltd - a UK subsidiary of MOL.

"Developing infrastructure like this giant bunker vessel is essential to allow LNG to become a widely used marine fuel," said Momar Nguer, President for Total Marketing & Services.

"This first ship demonstrates our commitment to offering our customers both more environmentally friendly fuels and the associated logistics. Thanks to this pioneering investment, Total is making a positive contribution to the sustainable evolution of global shipping."

Total claims to be second-largest private global LNG player with LNG sales of 22m tonnes in 2018, an overall global portfolio of around 40m tonnes per year by 2020, and a global market share of 10 percent.


Marius Kairys, CEO of Elenger Sp. z o.o. Elenger enters Polish LNG bunkering market with ferry refuelling operation  

Baltic energy firm completes maiden truck-to-ship LNG delivery in Gdansk.

Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) virtual reality (VR) training program developed in collaboration with Evergreen. SHI develops VR training solutions for Evergreen's methanol-fuelled ships  

Shipbuilder creates virtual reality program for 16,500 TEU boxship operations.

Illustratic image of Itochu's newbuild ammonia bunkering vessel, scheduled for delivery in September 2027. Itochu orders 5,000 cbm ammonia bunker vessel  

Japanese firm targets Singapore demonstration after October 2027, with Zeta Bunkering lined up to perform deliveries.

Bunkering of the Glovis Selene car carrier. Shell completes first LNG bunkering operation with Hyundai Glovis in Singapore  

Energy major supplies fuel to South Korean logistics firm's dual-fuel vessel.

Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) vessel. CPN delivers first B30 marine gasoil to OOCL in Hong Kong  

Chimbusco Pan Nation claims to be first in region to supply all grades of ISCC-EU certified marine biofuel.

The Buffalo 404 barge, owned by Buffalo Marine Service Inc., performing a bunker delivery. TFG Marine installs first ISO-certified mass flow meter on US Gulf bunker barge  

Installation marks expansion of company's digitalisation programme across global fleet.

Sogestran's fuel supply vessel, the Anatife, at the port of Belle-Île-en-Mer. Sogestran's HVO-powered tanker achieves 78% CO2 reduction on French island fuel runs  

Small tanker Anatife saves fuel while supplying Belle-Île and Île d'Yeu.

Crowley 1,400 TEU LNG-powered containership, Tiscapa. Crowley deploys LNG-powered boxship Tiscapa for Caribbean and Central American routes  

Vessel is the third in company's Avance Class fleet to enter service.

The inland LNG bunker vessel LNG London. LNG London completes 1,000 bunkering operations in Rotterdam and Antwerp  

Delivery vessel reaches milestone after five years of operations across ARA hub.

The M.V. COSCO Shipping Yangpu, China's first methanol dual-fuel containership. COSCO vessel completes maiden green methanol bunkering at Yangpu  

China's first methanol dual-fuel containership refuels with green methanol derived from urban waste.


↑  Back to Top