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LNG Bunkering

EXCLUSIVE: Designer of Singapore’s first LNG dual fuel bunkering tanker talks trend

More such LNG fuelled vessels to be ordered by other ship owners before the end of this year, spokesman of ship design firm SeaTech Solutions tells Manifold Times.
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Singapore-headquartered ship design firm SeaTech Solutions, the designer for Singapore's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered dual fuel bunkering vessel, believes the republic will be seeing more LNG fuelled ships ordered before the end of 2018. 
 
“We are working with different clients on several projects including smaller LNG carriers and should close these before end of the year,” Prabjot Singh Chopra, VP Technology at SeaTech tells Manifold Times.
 
Chopra, meanwhile, says many Singapore bunkering operators are still at a wait-and-see stage due to the extremely high incremental costs of ordering LNG dual fuel capable bunkering tankers.
 
“Everybody is waiting to confirm the availability and pricing of Low Sulphur fuels,” he notes.
 
“The biggest challenge is to reduce CAPEX and let owners see better returns on investment (ROI) as dual fuelled vessels present high incremental costs. The dual fuelled bunkering tanker may not fetch higher charter rates, and the only cost savings would be due to lower LNG prices.”
 
According to Chopra, building a LNG dual fuel vessel that can burn either LNG or marine gas oil (MGO) is between 20 to 25% more expensive compared to a similar vessel purely fuelled by LNG, due to the higher cost of the more expensive dual fuel engines.
 
However, a dual fuel engine offers flexibility and lower risk as availability and pricing of LNG are still not stable and expected to increase coming 2020. In such a case, the owner may choose to use MGO as a fuel if the price of LNG becomes too high.
 
The unpredictable LNG price, however, have not deterred some Singapore operators from exploring options for a LNG bunkering vessel capable of delivering LNG as a marine fuel to other dual fuel or pure gas fuel vessels.
 
“We are currently designing a range of smaller LNG bunkering vessels. The cost to build LNG tankers is high and we are working closely with the LNG system suppliers to integrate and optimise the design for a cost effective solution,” says Chopra.
 
“For example, building a 7,500 m3 pure LNG bunkering vessel in China will cost in region of USD$35 million,” shares Chopra.

The LNG cargo tanks of a pure LNG bunkering vessel may take up as much as 60% of the total cost of the vessel, he adds.
 
“We are looking at the same 7,500 m3 newbuild to our design below USD$30 million.
 
“The 7,500 m3 capacity LNG bunkering vessel will be adequate to deliver LNG to LNG fuelled bunker tankers, tugboats and other small and medium sized LNG fuelled vessels bunkering in Singapore.
 
“In comparison, the mega LNG-fuelled container vessels would require LNG bunker tankers with capacity of 15,000 to 20,000 m3. This requires a huge investment and a very high risk for any local bunker tanker owner to build a large LNG bunkering tanker without a guaranteed demand. In addition to the high investment and low ROI, the insufficient current demand for LNG bunkers is the second challenge.”
 
SeaTech Solutions is a vessel design specialist with more than 400 designs built and sailing worldwide. The company designed the world’s first deep sea mining vessel. In addition to Singapore, the firm has offices in China, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Korea.

Related: Sinanju, Mitsui AP orders LNG dual-fuel bunkering tanker from Keppel

Photo credit: SeaTech Solutions
Published: 2 May, 2018
 

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LNG Bunkering

Zhejiang Province wraps up first cross-regional bonded LNG bunkering operation

“Hai Yang Shi You 302” supplied container ship “MSC Maria Laura” with 3,500 cubic meters of bonded LNG at Chuanshan Port Area, after the bunkering vessel received bonded LNG in Zhoushan.

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Zhejiang Province wraps up first cross-regional bonded LNG bunkering operation

Zhejiang Province on Saturday (27 June) completed its first cross-regional bonded LNG bunkering operation at Chuanshan Port Area of ​​Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, according to Hangzhou Customs. 

Bunkering vessel Hai Yang Shi You 302 travelled to ENN Zhoushan LNG receiving terminal to load bonded LNG. The vessel then supplied container ship MSC Maria Laura with 3,500 cubic meters of bonded LNG at Chuanshan Port Area. 

Zhejiang Province wraps up first cross-regional bonded LNG bunkering operation

Compared with the traditional single-port bunkering model, the cross-regional operation removes the geographical barriers between Zhoushan’s gas supply and bunkering demand in Ningbo’s core port area, enabling cross-port LNG transfer within the province.

“The new operating model addresses longstanding constraints associated with the geographical limitations of LNG supply reloading and tight operational time windows,” said Chen Bangkui, Business Manager at CNOOC Zhejiang New Energy Co Ltd. 

“We can now flexibly source bonded LNG from both Zhoushan and Ningbo, significantly improving operational flexibility and efficiency.”

 

Photo credit: Hangzhou Customs
Published: 6 July, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

Port of Bilbao grants Molgas truck-to-ship LNG bunkering licence

Molgas says the licence marked a milestone that strengthens its ability to continue developing new supply opportunities across Spanish ports.
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Port of Bilbao grants Molgas truck-to-ship LNG bunkering licence

Madrid-headquartered Molgas Energy Group on Friday (3 July) said the company has been granted an operating licence to supply LNG bunker fuel to vessels at the Port of Bilbao through Truck-to-Ship (TTS) operation.

Molgas said the licence marked a milestone that strengthens its ability to continue developing new supply opportunities across Spanish ports.

“In addition, in recent weeks, we took part in the presentation of the new LNG Supply Tender Model at the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility. We participated as part of the Gasnam working group specialising in TTS operations, contributing our expertise to the development of the sector,” it said.

The event was attended by the Secretary General for Air and Maritime Transport, the President of State Ports, and the Director General of the Merchant Marine.

 

Photo credit: Molgas
Published: 6 July, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

Gasum secures LNG bunker fuel supply deal for Fjord1 ferries

Both signed a long-term agreement on the supply of LNG for a group of ferries operating the daily Arsvågen–Mortavika route connecting Stavanger and Haugesund along E39.
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Gasum secures LNG bunker fuel supply deal for Fjord1 ferries

Energy company Gasum on Wednesday (1 July) said it has signed a long-term agreement with Norwegian ferry operator Fjord1 on the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for a group of ferries operating the daily Arsvågen–Mortavika route connecting Stavanger and Haugesund along E39. 

The agreement covers fuel supply for four main ferries and one backup ferry.

“We are very pleased that Fjord1 has selected Gasum as its LNG supplier for this important ferry route. The agreement underlines our ability to provide reliable LNG deliveries for demanding maritime operations thanks to our fully integrated and seamless supply chain,” said Jacob Granqvist, Vice President, Maritime, Gasum.

“For Fjord1, reliable fuel supply is essential to maintaining safe and predictable ferry operations on one of Norway’s most important ferry routes. We are pleased to enter into this agreement with Gasum, which supports our focus on operational reliability, efficient logistics and our long-term ambition to provide safe and environmentally friendly transport for our customers, contracting authorities and partners,” said Tor Kristoffersen, Head of regional operations, Fjord1.

Fjord1 is a Norwegian ferry company, transporting over 20 million passengers annually. The company is a supplier of critical infrastructure to coastal Norway.

The Arsvågen–Mortavika ferry connection is an important transport link on the Norwegian west coast. Gasum will bunker the ferries truck-to-ship at both ends of the route, requiring precise scheduling to keep ferry operations running smoothly.

Gasum’s extensive supply network of terminals, vessels and trucks makes the company an optimal partner for an operator such as Fjord1 for whom reliability of fuel supply is essential.

Gasum supplies LNG and bio-LNG to different types of maritime customers, from service vessels to container ships, across North-Western Europe. Gasum is able to offer a unique layer of flexibility to its bunkering services and a seamless transition to low or negative emission bio-LNG either fully or as a blend of any ratio with LNG.

 

Photo credit: Gasum
Published: 6 July, 2026

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