European small-scale LNG player Molgas continues to expand the company’s LNG bunkering network with the completion of its first operation in Italy.
The Madrid-based group said in a statement on Thursday it has completed the first-ever LNG bunkering in the Italian island of Sicily.
According to Molgas, the truck-to-ship LNG bunkering operation took place on April 11 at the port of Trapani and Molgas delivered LNG to Caronte & Tourist’s vessel, Nerea.
Molgas did not provide any addition information.
Sefine shipyard in Turkey delivered the LNG-powered ferry to Caronte & Tourist’s Siremar in November last year.
According to Caronte & Tourist, the firm held an inauguration ceremony for the ferry in December last year in Palermo.
Nerea is 110 meters long and 20 meters wide and has a capacity for 800 passengers and 114 cars.
Finland’s Wartsila said in 2021 that it will supply two Wartsila 34DF dual-fuel main engines and two 20DF dual-fuel auxiliary engines, as well as the fuel storage and supply system for the Italian ferry.
The new ferry joins a growing number of LNG-powered vessels around the globe.
According to the latest data by DNV, there are now 520 LNG-powered ships in operation and 514 LNG-fueled vessels on order.
These statistics do not include smaller inland vessels or dual-fuel LNG carriers.
In order to cater to the increasing demand for LNG as fuel for vessels, Molgas has invested significantly in its LNG bunkering business over the past year.
Besides this first operation in Italy, Molgas recently completed its first operations in Belgium.
Prior to Belgium, the group, owned by French private equity firm InfraVia Capital Partners, wrapped up its first LNG bunkering operation in France.
Molgas also bought a 45 percent stake in Dutch LNG supplier Titan. This deal includes further follow-on rights from Molgas.