French power group Whole stated Monday it had realized the primary ship-to-containership Liquefied Pure Fuel (LNG) bunkering operation in France.
The world’s largest LNG bunker vessel in operation, Whole’s Fuel Agility, accomplished on Friday night, April thirtieth, on the Port of Dunkirk the refueling of the world’s largest containership powered by LNG, the CMA CGM Jacques Saade, with round 16,400m3 of LNG.
This inaugural operation additionally marks Dunkerque LNG terminal’s first loading of a small-scale LNG vessel and the Terminal des Flandres’ first LNG bunkering operation with simultaneous cargo operations, Whole stated.
Importantly, Whole stated the operation underscored cooperation throughout all companions of the ‘Inexperienced Loop’ undertaking consortium, which contains of Whole, the Dunkerque LNG terminal, Mitsui O.S.Ok. Traces (MOL) and CMA CGM.
Co-financed by the European Union underneath the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) – Transport Sector, the general undertaking goal is to advertise the decarbonization of maritime transport by deploying a scale-up LNG bunkering resolution in North Europe.
Whole stated that key investments, important to allow the operation, had been made throughout the framework of the undertaking to spice up the Dunkerque LNG terminal’s capabilities in providing small-scale LNG providers. 
Whole Fuel Agility loading LNG at DKLNG terminal – ©Dunkerque LNG
“Amongst varied developments, an current terminal jetty was tailored to permit the availability of LNG loading to LNG bunkering vessels. Moreover, leveraging the experience and expertise of the consortium companions and the involvement of the Port of Dunkirk, all related LNG loading and bunkering procedures have been developed in compliance with security laws,” the corporate stated.
“Lastly, this profitable operation is an added testomony to the Fuel Agility’s operational excellence. Since commencing operations in November 2020, the LNG bunker vessel has delivered greater than 160,000 m3 of LNG bunker in Rotterdam the place she relies. She is designed to serve a broad vary of vessels from varied segments, together with CMA CGM’s 23 000 TEUs LNG-fuelled container ships,” Whole added.
In line with Whole, by 2022, the Fuel Agility’s sistership, one other 18,600 m3 newbuild LNG bunker vessel, will be part of Whole’s LNG bunker fleet to serve the Mediterranean area. Concurrently, Whole will share using a 3rd bunker vessel in Singapore.
“We’re happy to associate with Dunkerque LNG for this unprecedented operation, and to showcase the agility of our LNG bunkering options to serve the Northwestern Europe market,” stated Jérôme Leprince-Ringuet, Vice President Marine Fuels at Whole. “It additionally reinforces our confidence within the position of LNG for shipping’s power transition. We’ll proceed to develop our LNG bunker provide community, to assist our clients benefit from the confirmed discount in greenhouse gases of as much as 23% and its vital air high quality advantages.”
“We’re pleased with this profitable first operation. Our groups carried out the loading with a excessive stage of security as they at all times do,” commented Olivier Heurtin, CEO of Dunkerque LNG. “Because of an in depth cooperation with Whole, this new chapter showcases the terminal’s dedication to offer the infrastructure and the providers to unlock LNG instead low-emission gas for ships and heavy-duty highway transport”.
