Russian firms sign agreement to accelerate use of LNG as marine fuel
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Gazprom Gas-Engine Fuel, Gazpromneft Marine Bunker and United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) on Thursday (5 September) entered into a tripartite agreement on cooperation and strategic partnership in the development of Russia’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuelled fleet and related infrastructure.
The memorandum in the framework of the Eastern Economic Forum was signed by Alexey Medvedev, Acting General Director of Gazpromneft Marine Bunker, Oleg Melekhin, General Director of Gazprom Gas-Engine Fuel, and Alexei Rakhmanov, President of USC.
The agreement provides for scientific and technical cooperation between the parties aimed at the development of production capacities for the creation and construction of ships operating on LNG and LNG infrastructure.
In accordance with the memorandum, the parties agreed to implement a joint roadmap aimed at developing the bunkering market for ships using LNG.
The parties to the agreement also plan to work together with shipping companies, potential customers of LNG-powered vessels.
Another area of ??cooperation is the joint participation in creation and improvement of the regulatory framework for the use of LNG as fuel in Russia.
Gazpromneft Marine Bunker specialists will conduct a comprehensive analysis of projects to create a liquefied natural gas bunkering infrastructure based on ship-to-ship and shore-ship bunkering schemes.
Gazprom Gas-Engine Fuel will consider the possibility of providing services related to LNG transportation by road, storage and bunkering from the berth wall using cryogenic mobile automobile gas refuelling vehicles as well as LNG bunker tanker to receiving ships.
USC will analyse the existing technical capabilities for the development, creation and certification of LNG vessels.
“The share of ships operating on LNG is increasing every year due to the economic efficiency and environmental characteristics of this type of fuel,” said Alexey Medvedev, Acting General Director of Gazpromneft Marine Bunker.
“Gazprom Neft’s cooperation with leading Russian shipbuilders and gas engine manufacturers will contribute to the development of a new market on the one hand through the formation of a domestic LNG fleet, and on the other through the creation of a modern high-tech marine and coastal bunkering infrastructure in the country.”
“We see a significant potential for the use of LNG as a fuel for sea and river vessels, this is due to its economic and environmental advantages,” said Oleg Melekhin, CEO of Gazprom Gas-Engine Fuel.
“The signed Memorandum will allow consolidating the efforts and experience of the parties in this strategically important direction.”
“For shipowners around the world today, three factors are most important: cost-effectiveness, safety and environmental friendliness,” said Alexey Rakhmanov, President of USC.
“High-tech LNG powered vessels are becoming more and more in demand. For our part, we at OSK are ready to build them – for example, we are talking about tankers and icebreakers. The corporation has all the necessary competencies for this.”
Earlier in 2018, Gazpromneft Marine Bunker had already initiated the implementation of an international standard for LNG fuel bunkering in the practice of Russian shipping.
Related: Gazpromneft Marine Bunker adopts ISO LNG bunkering standard
Photo credit: Gazprom Neft
Published: 6 September, 2019
