LNG

Titan Clean Fuels, a leading Dutch supplier of liquefied natural gas and bio-methane for shipping, has performed the largest bio-LNG ship-to-ship bunkering in the Port of Rotterdam by providing 2,200 tonnes of fuel to a Hapag-Lloyd container vessel.

Jan 26 (LNGJ) - The Dutch Port of Rotterdam registered less bunkering for shipping in 2023 except for LNG fuel with the overall total dropping to 9.9 million tonnes in 2023 compared with 10.6MT in 2022. “The demand for fuel oil, marine gas oil and other fuels was 6.7 percent lower than in 2022. Only bunkering of LNG rose significantly from 406,599 cubic metres to 619,243 cubic metres,” the Port said. “This had everything to do with developments in the price of LNG. The demand for bunkers mixed with biofuels dropped from 790,851 tonnes to 751,638 tonnes,” the Port added.

   “The overall decline is mainly caused by fewer sea-going vessels arriving in Rotterdam and because the price of bunker oil was temporarily more favourable in Singapore,” it added. The Port Authority also noted that along with the Port of Antwerp-Brugge Authority all bunker vessels by early 2026 have to work with “officially accepted bunker measurement” systems. “With this measure, the port authorities aim to make the ARA bunker market more transparent, efficient and reliable,” they added.

Heerema Group, the Dutch marine offshore contractor and owner of the biggest and strongest semi-submersible crane ever built, the “Sleipnir”, said the vessel has received the world’s largest ever LNG bunkering load in the Port of Rotterdam.

Three Dutch companies have cooperated in the bunkering with liquefied natural gas off Indonesia of the world’s largest and strongest semi-submersible crane, now headed for Europe.

Heerema Group, the Dutch marine offshore contractor, said the crane built in Singapore will be heading for Spain.

The semi-submersible crane, called the “Sleipnir”, will take 45 days to reach its destination. The vessel can be powered on a dual-fuel basis with LNG and Marine Gasoil (MGO), thus reducing harmful emissions.

The vessel has just received LNG in a ship-to-ship transfer 12 miles off the coast of Indonesia from the LNG bunkering vessel, the 10,000 cubic metres capacity “Coral Fraseri”, owned and managed by Dutch shipping line Anthony Veder.

“Since LNG is not yet obtainable worldwide this is among the first LNG bunkering operations in this area of the world,” said Heerema.

Another Dutch company, Amsterdam-based fuel supplier Titan LNG, has chartered the “Coral Fraseri” for the fuel operation, thus resulting in unique Dutch cooperation.

“We are excited by serving Heerema’s ‘Sleipnir’ in this LNG bunkering operation in cooperation with Titan LNG, and look forward to many more,” said Jan Valkier, Chief Executive of Anthony Veder.

“Shortly after adding the ‘Coral Fraseri’ to our fleet we have already mobilized her in the small-scale LNG market, which underlines our strong position and commitment in supplying the maritime industry worldwide sustainable solutions for LNG as marine fuel,” added Valkier.

Koos-Jan van Brouwershaven, the CEO of Heerema, said that not only was the “Sleipnir” the world’s largest and strongest sea-borne crane, it is also first of its kind as far as sustainability goes.

“We are making offshore history. No other vessel has such numerous features. Our LED lights and shore-power electricity are only a few examples of Heerema’s ambition in this area,” added Van Brouwershaven.

“The ‘Sleipnir’ design clearly showcases Heerema’s dedication to sustainability beyond simply compliance,” explained the Heerema CEO.

“It shows that we act sustainable because we want to. Not because we have to. This specific project of bunkering LNG is proof of this ambition,” he stated.

“We are very pleased to work together with Dutch company Titan LNG, since it provided us with good solutions for bunkering, in Singapore as well as in Spain. The involvement of a second Dutch company, Anthony Veder, makes this maiden voyage extra special,” added Van Brouwershaven

Anthony Veder said the “Sleipnir” will now set sail for Spain, rounding South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope.

In Spain, Titan LNG and the “Coral Fraseri”, which is returning to Europe via the Suez Canal, will again supply LNG bunkering services for the “Sleipnir”.

Gasum, the Finnish natural gas company, said its liquefied natural gas bunkering vessel “Coralius”, has conducted its first fuel operation in the port and refining area of Rotterdam, one of the most important logistics hubs in Europe.

Gasum said the 5,800 cubic metres capacity ship-to-ship bunkering vessel has now proved her worth in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) area.

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) was supplied to the vessel “Bit Viking”.

“Finally, being able to bunker our clients in the ARA area, increases LNG availability and security for the LNG fueled fleet,” said Kimmo Rahkamo, Vice President of natural gas and LNG at Gasum.

“The amount of LNG driven vessels is growing rapidly globally, and we will definitely be part of the growth in being present where LNG is needed,” he added.

The “Coralius” has her main operation area in the North Sea and the Skagerrak area.

The Skangas LNG business is now fully under the Gasum banner and during the quarter of 2019 the bunkering vessel “Coralius” performed its 100th ship-to-ship fuel operation.

The “Coralius” delivers LNG through ship-to-ship bunkering at sea and in port.

Gasum said this has significantly increased Gasum’s flexibility and responsiveness to vessels that require LNG but are unable to visit a terminal or a port.

“We are happy with this opportunity to get LNG by ship-to-ship bunkering also in the Port of Rotterdam,” said Anders Hermansson, Technical Manager of Tarbit Shipping.

“Our vessel ‘Bit Viking’ converted to LNG already in 2011. Since then we have operated on LNG about 97 percent of the time, mainly supported by Gasum,” he added.