New LNG bunkering vessel for Zeebrugge

Gas4 Sea, LNG bunkering, Engie Zeebrugge
»Engie Zeebrugge« (Photo: Gas4Sea)
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ENGIE, Fluxys, Mitsubishi Corporation, and NYK have taken delivery of the world’s first purpose built LNG bunkering vessel (LBV) from Hanjin Heavy Industries.

The bunkering vessel was built at the Yeongdo shipyard in Busan (Korea). She will run on LNG for her maiden voyage, after[ds_preview] a few days of loading liquified natural gas delivered by trucks at the shipyard.

Zeebrugge in Belgium will be the home port of the vessel, which has been named »ENGIE Zeebrugge« accordingly. From there, the 5,000 m³ capacity LBV will supply ships operating in Northern Europe. The two LNG-fueled pure car and truck carriers (PCTC) operated by United European Car Carriers will be its first customers.

»ENGIE Zeebrugge« will load LNG at Fluxys’ LNG terminal in Zeebrugge, where small carriers with capacities from 2 000 m³ can dock at the recently commissioned second jetty.

As international regulations on emissions for ships tighten, LNG is expected to become an important alternative fuel for the maritime industry. Currently, the bunker market amounts to approximately 250 mill. t of heavy fuel oil per year. The challenge in making gas grow in the bunker market is to develop sufficient supply infrastructure to support the increasing number of LNG-fueled ships that are expected to come into operation. »ENGIE Zeebrugge«, in this respect, marks a milestone in the development of the European bunkering chain.

Gas4Sea: marketing LNG as a marine fuel

Last September, ENGIE, Mitsubishi Corporation and NYK launched »Gas4Sea«, a brand name for marketing ship-to-ship LNG bunkering services worldwide, firstly via the »ENGIE Zeebrugge« in Northern Europe. Under this common brand, the three partners intend to support the development of LNG as a marine fuel, thus contributing to an environmentally friendly maritime industry.

»ENGIE Zeebrugge« – facts & figures

  • Length overall: 107.60 m
  • Breadth: 18.40 m
  • Depth: 9.00 m
  • LNG capacity: 5,000 m³
  • Gross tonnage: 7,403 t
  • Main engine: Dual Fuel (marine gas oil, marine diesel oil, and LNG)
  • CountryFlag: Belgium
  • Class: Bureau Veritas
  • Shipyard: Hanjin Heavy Industries, Yeongdo Shipyard (Pusan)
  • Ship management: NYK Energy Transport (Atlantic) Ltd.