Tanker vessel Fure Viten has marked a milestone becoming the first European ship to receive LNG bunkering in Hamilton, Canada.
LNG fuel was provided by New York-based REV LNG and the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA) in early August and was served to the Swedish vessel chartered by liquid bulk shipping line Petro-Nav Desgagnés.
"Our hope is to continue demonstrating that Hamilton is the focal point for LNG supply to the Great Lakes marine market with safe and reliable service and attention to our customers’ needs," David Kilbourne, CEO of REV LNG, said.
In-demand service
Owned by Swedish shipping line Furetank Rederi, the Fure Viten is its flagship with load capacity of 20,300 cubic-metres and 12 tanks. Kilbourne identified Fure Viten as the company's second active client in Hamilton and expressed optimism about the port city's role in the industry.
The collaboration between Petro-Nav Desgagnés and REV LNG has already been fruitful, with a variety of successful bunkering operations at HOPA since 2020.
"With more than 40 bunkering operations completed, it is clear this capability is in-demand and meeting a desire in the industry for safe and environmentally progressive fuelling options," Ian Hamilton, President and CEO of HOPA, said.
Beyond the Fure Viten charter, Desgagnés also operates a fleet of five LNG-fuelled Canadian-flagged tanks. These vessels operate in the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence Seaway system, Eastern Canada, the US, and the Canadian Arctic. Of these, four are sister ships designed and built by Desgagnés, while the Gaia Desgagnés, along with the Fure Viten and one additional chartered-in vessel, the Ramelia, are sister ships designed and built by Furetank.
Global reach
The bunkering of Fure Viten represents a milestone for the industry and the expansion of LNG's global reach, signalling its adoption across international maritime routes as well. However, the accomplishment also shines a spotlight on the challenges still to be addressed.
Standardisation and interoperability remain major obstacles in the broader adoption of LNG, with new regulatory and safety concerns that must be addressed through comprehensive guidelines and protocols.
Earlier this year, Furetank Rederi announced that Fure Viten already meets IMO’s emissions target for 2050 thanks to its unique combination of systems, delivering a very low EEDI value of 4.65 points.
