In this issue

 

The German government is to invest €62 million for the construction of three LNG bunker vessels by shipbuilder Flensburger Schiffbau Gesellschaft (FSG). 
Thursday, 09 February 2023
LNG bunker fuel sales at the Port of Rotterdam slumped in the fourth quarter, as demand collapsed, according to the latest figures from the Rotterdam Port Authority. 
The world's largest LNG bunkering vessel has completed refuelling operations at Yantian Port in China, marking the first bonded LNG bunkering in the southern Chinese region. 
Free ReadFinnish engine manufacturer Wärtsilä is to supply the LNG fuel control and propulsion systems for four new container ships under construction by Jiangsu New Yangzi Shipbuilding yard in China.  The four…
Thursday, 09 February 2023
Gas infrastructure firm Pitpoint.LNG has opened a new LNG refuelling station at Autohof Pfefferhöhe in Alsfeld, Germany. 
The Natural & bioGas Vehicle Association (NGVA) Europe has rebranded as Gmobility to better represent the swift development of natural gas vehicle infrastructure in Europe. 
Free ReadFrench shipbuilder Chantiers de l'Atlantique has partnered with luxury hotel group Accor to develop a novel hybrid vessel, combining wind power and LNG, that is expected to be the world's largest…
Mining giant Anglo American has started operation of the first of its LNG-fuelled Ubuntu bulk carriers, built by China’s Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS). 
Fuel specialist Scale Gas and shipping firm Knutsen have launched the first LNG bunkering vessel built in Spain, commencing operations at the Barcelona Regasification Terminal. 
Free ReadJapanese shipping conglomerate Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has launched the Sunflower Kurenai, the first of two LNG-fuelled ferries in Japan.  The new ferry entered service in January and will operate…
Sustainable shipping firms Oceania Marine Energy and Pilbara Clean Fuels (PCF) have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop LNG bunkering infrastructure at Port Hedland, Western Australia. 
Thursday, 09 February 2023
Investment manager Arroyo has acquired a stake in maritime logistics firm Seaside LNG, backing the firm’s strategy to develop shore-side LNG liquefaction and bunkering infrastructure. 
Spanish fuel group Molgas Energía has begun the process of integrating 24 refuelling stations into its network, following their acquisition from industrial gas firm Air Liquide. 
Free ReadGerman shipping company TT-Line has expanded its LNG-fuelled fleet, with the addition of a new ferry vessel serving Baltic routes.  The new vessel is named Peter Pan and moored for…

News Nudges

GSI receives LNG PCTC orders

Chinese shipbuilder Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) has secured orders to build LNG-fuelled pure car and truck carriers (PCTC) from H-Line Shipping and BYD Group. The orders include two LNG dual-fuel PCTS for H-Line with a capacity of 8,600. The vessels will be chartered to Hyudai Glovis.


Tote hits North American bunkering milestone

Fuelling specialist Tote Maritime has completed the 300th operation with its bunker vessel, Clean Jacksonville, the first LNG bunker barge in North America. The milestone was completed at Jax LNG in Florida by subsidiary Tote Services which operates the barge. The Clean Jacksonville also supplies Tote’s Marlin class LNG-powered vessels in Jacksonville, Florida. The Clean Jacksonville was built by Conrad Industries and features a single GTT LNG tank with capacity of 2,200 cubic metres.


Slow start to 2023 for newbuild orders

The first month of 2023 saw no new confirmed orders for LNG-fuelled ships, according to the latest figures from certification agency DNV. ‘The year has come off to a slow start for orders on alternative fuelled vessels, however February is already looking more promising,’ said Martin Wold, Principal Consultant in DNV’s Maritime Advisory business. More competitive gas prices in January are expected to boost demand over the course of the year. The total number of LNG-fuelled ships ordered in 2022 fell compared to 2021, from 240 to 222.


China trials fuel tank replacement bunkering

The first successful refuelling of LNG by the novel tank replacement method has been completed in China, with two vessels bunkering fuel in in Xuzhou, northwestern Jiangsu province. The process involved the LNG-fuelled containerships Hongyuan Xuzhou and Hongyuan Wuhan and replacement of movable fuel tanks, each containing 17 tonnes of LNG. “This kind of movable LNG fuel tank supplying gas to cargo ships is like replacing batteries for new energy vehicles,” Miao Xiaochao, Team Leader of CNOOC Jiangsu LNG Tank Replacing Project Team, reportedly said. “This model is the first in China. The whole process only takes 15 to 30 minutes, which is 60% to 70% shorter than the traditional filling method.” The new method is particularly beneficial for inland transport where a lack of available stations on China’s main rivers has limited LNG uptake. Following refuelling the ships set sail on the Jiangsu section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.