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Shell’s VP global downstream LNG, Dexter Belmar, announced the signing of the charter agreements in a social media post on Monday.
He said that China’s Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering (CIMC) will build the vessels and deliver them in 2028.
Belmar did not provide further details regarding the agreements.
He said this follows Shell’s earlier agreements with Spain’s Ibaizabal Group for two other 18,000-cbm bunker vessels, under construction at South Korea’s HD Hyundai Mipo, which are set for delivery in 2027.
“With 14 LNG bunker vessels already operating across 28 locations in 13 countries, these four newbuilds will strengthen our presence in key regions: Europe, the US, the Caribbean, and Singapore. The vessels will be positioned based on customer demand when they come on water,” Belmar said.
“As marine LNG demand is projected to exceed 16 mtpa by 2030, this investment reflects our commitment to staying ahead of the curve – expanding capacity, improving accessibility of LNG and bio-LNG, and reinforcing Shell’s leadership in the LNG bunkering market,” he said.
According to the Purus website, these will be the first LNG bunkering vessels in its fleet.
Earlier this year, Purus ordered one LNG carrier from HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, bringing its newbuilding program to a total of ten gas carriers under construction at Hyundai Group-affiliated shipyards.
Shell’s LNG bunkering business continues to grow
Belmar recently announced that Shell expanded its LNG bunkering network to Portland, UK.
Shell delivered 1.1 million tonnes of marine LNG last year, hitting a new record and more than doubling the amount delivered in 2023.
This was achieved with 1000 bunkering operations across 26 bunkering locations in 12 countries, by 12 bunker barges, Belmar said earlier this year.
Shell worked with Carnival, CMA CGM, Eastern Pacific Shipping, K Line, Northern Lights JV, Seaboard Marine, ZIM, and others on the LNG bunkering operations.
Last month, the company also signed a deal with Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd to supply the latter’s dual-fuel container vessels with bio-LNG.
The agreement builds on a strategic collaboration established in 2023, under which Shell agreed to supply LNG to Hapag-Lloyd’s giant LNG-powered containerships in the Dutch port of Rotterdam.