Asia’s first ship-to-containership liquefied pure gasoline (LNG) bunkering operation was undertaken in Singapore on Wednesday as vessel proprietor and operators proceed to show to the cleaner burning gas to scale back their emissions and Singapore ramps up its efforts to grow to be an LNG bunkering hub.
French shipping firm CMA CGM, a big adopter of LNG gas for its containerships, stated its vessel CMA CGM Scandola was fueled with 7,100 cubic meters (m3) of LNG from FueLNG Bellina, Singapore’s first LNG bunkering vessel. The bunkering was carried out in cooperation with FueLNG, a three way partnership between Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M) and Shell Jap Petroleum (Pte) Ltd, and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
Senior Minister of State for Transport and Overseas Affairs, Chee Hong Tat, stated, “The usage of extra sustainable fuels is a vital aspect of the decarbonization technique. Because the shipping business explores different zero-carbon fuels, LNG is a viable transitional gas. As a worldwide bunkering hub, we’re happy to accomplice CMA CGM, FueLNG, Keppel Offshore & Marine and Shell Jap Petroleum, to offer extra sustainable bunkering options for the shipping business. It additionally marks one other main milestone as Asia’s first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operation with simultaneous cargo operations.”
CMA CGM Scandola is the primary of six new 15,000-TEU LNG-powered containerships which CMA CGM Group has lined-up to be bunkered in Singapore this 12 months. These ships might be deployed on CMA CGM’s MEX 1 service between Asia and the Mediterranean.
It’s also the primary vessel in Asia to conduct simultaneous container loading and discharging operations alongside LNG bunkering operations, shortening port keep time. From Singapore, she is going to set sail with over 14,800 (twenty-foot equal items) containers, comprising family items, digital objects, equipment and private safety gear for the Mediterranean.
That is additionally the primary ship-to-ship operation for FueLNG Bellina. Designed and constructed by Keppel O&M, the 7,500m3 FueLNG Bellina gives extra choices for shipowners and operators to bunker LNG in Singapore. FueLNG goals to offer a complete of about 30 to 50 ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operations in 2021, extending its monitor document of over 300 truck-to-ship LNG bunkering operations up to now.
LNG is broadly seen among the many greatest and instantly accessible options that may cut back the environmental affect of maritime transport and protect air high quality. It allows a discount of 99% in sulfur dioxide, 91% in particulate matter emissions and 92% in nitrogen oxide emissions, far surpassing the necessities of present rules. LNG additionally gives an preliminary answer to the problem of tackling local weather change. An LNG-powered vessel emits as much as 20% much less CO2 than typical marine fuel-powered methods.
In accordance with Shell’s LNG Outlook report, international LNG bunkering demand is estimated to develop to 30 to 50 million tons each year (MTPA) by 2040. Presently there are about 400 LNG-fueled vessels in operation or on order, with an anticipated demand of LNG as marine gas of almost 3.5 MTPA.
Stephane Courquin, Chief Government Officer of CMA CGM Asia Pacific, stated, “CMA CGM is dedicated to the vitality transition within the shipping business. Right this moment, LNG is essentially the most superior answer on the subject of preserving air high quality. This know-how is among the first steps in direction of attaining CMA CGM Group’s formidable 2050 goal of carbon neutrality. CMA CGM Scandola is the primary of extra CMA CGM-operated LNG vessels that may endure simultaneous cargo and LNG bunkering operations in Singapore. The Group’s fleet of LNG containerships will develop to 32 by the top of 2022.”
Quah Ley Hoon, Chief Government of MPA, stated, “The usage of LNG as a marine gas is quick gaining traction worldwide amid a worldwide push to make use of cleaner shipping fuels. Because the world’s prime bunkering and transshipment hub port, MPA is happy that we’re in a position to facilitate Asia’s very first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operation with simultaneous cargo operations. We’ll proceed to work with the business to advertise LNG bunkering in Singapore and drive the transition to extra sustainable shipping.”
Chris Ong, Chairman of FueLNG and CEO of Keppel O&M, added, “We’re happy to kickstart ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operations for the FueLNG Bellina in Singapore, which permits us to gas bigger vessels corresponding to containerships. We now have quite a few ships lined up for FueLNG Bellina’s subsequent bunkering operations, reflecting the robust demand for LNG bunkering in Singapore. LNG is a vital a part of the clear vitality transition and that is in keeping with Keppel’s Imaginative and prescient 2030 to pursue greener vitality developments.”
Tahir Faruqui, Director, FueLNG and Head of Shell Downstream LNG, stated, “It’s essential that the shipping sector employs the cleanest fuels accessible as we speak and we proceed to strengthen our community to produce our prospects with cleaner burning fuels. As well as, vessels utilizing LNG as a gas must be comparatively extra sturdy in addressing the monetary affect of any CO2 levy probably imposed sooner or later. Singapore is a brand new addition inside our international LNG bunkering community of eight international locations and 9 ports. We plan to double this bunkering infrastructure on key worldwide commerce routes by the mid-2020s in order that we are able to help the sector with the capabilities to deal with emissions with urgency.”