Integrated maritime operator AD Ports Group has competed its first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operation at Khalifa Port, paving the way for increased uptake of the fuel in the region.
The transfer was carried out between the bunker vessel Green Zeebrugge and the container vessel MSC Thais, while at berth in Abu Dhabi Terminals. Fuel for the bunkering procedure was supplied by marine fuels provider Monjasa.
“By adhering to the highest safety and environmental standards, AD Ports Group and Monjasa are ensuring that shipowners have reliable access to a diversified fuel mix that supports their decarbonisation objectives,” Captain Saif Al Mheiri, Chief Sustainability Officer at AD Ports Group, said. “AD Ports Group will continue to explore and implement forward-looking solutions that drive progress toward global sustainability goals.”
Bunkering expansion
The operation was hailed as a landmark for regional development of LNG bunkering, with Abu Dhabi keen to position itself as a key hub for alternative marine fuels and sustainable maritime solutions.
“With this achievement, AD Ports Group is accelerating the shift toward sustainable marine fuels, while reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s leadership in the global energy transition,” a spokesperson for the firm said.
AD Ports Group and Monjasa have announced that they will continue to expand LNG bunkering services across the Group’s commercial ports in Abu Dhabi, including cruise vessels at Zayed Port.
Alongside LNG, the firms will continue to offer a comprehensive fuel portfolio in the medium-term, including Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO), Marine Gas Oil (MGO), and High-Sulfur Fuel Oil (HSFO).
Net Zero strategy
Longer-term the partners are keen to explore lower carbon alternatives, with plans to invest in new frameworks to support a wider range of fuel options as well as advancing LNG bunkering protocols and guidelines.
The UAE is also exploring new legislation to promote clean fuel bunkering as part of the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Strategy. This framework aims to build on policy from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators (SIGTTO) amongst others to establish the UAE as a go-to hub for LNG and clean fuel pathways.
Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, AD Ports Group operates across five key clusters – Digital, Economic Cities & Free Zones, Logistics, Maritime & Shipping, and Ports. The group operates in 38 locations globally and is one of the Gulf region’s largest holding companies.
