Gaztransport and Technigaz, (GTT), the French storage tank technology company, said it received an order from Sembcorp Marine shipyard in Singapore concerning the tank designs of a liquefied natural gas bunkering vessel as fuel and small-scale LNG activities expand in Asia.
The Sembcorp order was from the shipowner Indah Singa Maritime Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL).
GTT said the bunkering vessel with 12,000 cubic metres capacity would be fitted with the Mark III Flex membrane containment system.
The ship’s delivery from Sembcorp is scheduled for the first half of 2021.
“We are very pleased to receive this first order from Sembcorp Marine less than one year after signing a license agreement,” said Philippe Berterottiere, GTT Chairman and Chief Executive.
“This new LNG bunker vessel project strengthens our aspirations for the development of the use of LNG as a marine fuel and further demonstrates the relevance of GTT technologies for this type of application,” added the CEO.
The newbuild when it enters service will be chartered by Pavilion Energy to supply LNG fuel in the Port of Singapore.
MOL will own the vessel and the Singaporean bunker services provider, Sinanju, will help manage the ship.
Pavilion, the energy company owned by Singapore wealth fund Temasek, said it had received a S$3 million (US$2.2 million) grant under the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore’s (MPA) LNG bunkering co-funding programme.
The newbuild will have twin membrane LNG cargo tanks for more efficient boil-off gas management and will fuel ships mainly for the coastal and short-sea trade.
Quah Ley Hoon, Chief Executive of MPA, has said she was extremely pleased to have LNG fueling at the world’s largest bunkering port.
“We look forward to this collaboration catering to growing future demand for ship-to-ship LNG bunkering in Singapore,” she added.
The Singapore LNG import terminal on Jurong Island completed modifications in February 2019 to its secondary jetty and was now able to handle small-scale LNG carriers.
The terminal owner said that vessels with capacities of between 2,000 cubic metres and 10,000 cubic metres could now re-load break-bulk cargoes for delivery to small power plants and other customers in the region.
The modifications include the installation of a new marine loading arm and gangway, as well as new facilities for securing smaller ships at the jetty.
