China’s SSES hits monthly LNG bunkering record

According to SSES, a unit of China’s terminal operator Shanghai International Port (SIPG) and Shenergy, its 20,000-cbm bunkering vessel Hai Gang Wei Lai bunkered 11 ships in December.

SSES also mentioned the 14,000-cbm river-sea vessel, Huaihe Nengyuan Qihang, saying the vessel realized the trial operation of two types of vessels at two terminals in Waigaoqiao area during the Christmas season.

In July this year, Hudong-Zhnoghua Chinese delivered this vessel to Huaihe Energy Group.

Inclduing both vessels, SSES set a record high of 13 refuelings, 7 loadings, and LNG refueling volume of nearly 68,000 cbm in a single month, the firm said.

The operations included bunkering containernhsips owned by CMA CGM, Matson, and PIL. The vessels are CMA CGM’s CMA CGM Torcadero, Matson’s Daniel K. Inouye, and PIL’s Kota Emerald, according to images posted by SSES.

From October 20 to October 27, Hai Gang Wei Lai completed five LNG refueling operations and one loading operation, with a total of 23,292 cbm of LNG, SSES previously said.

These operations included the inaugural LNG bunkering of PIL’s first LNG dual-fuel containership in China, as well as the fueling of a CMA CGM containership and a PCTC owned by Hoegh Autoliners.

SSES previously signed a long-term contract with French shipping giant CMA CGM.

In March 2022, the firm completed the first LNG bunkering operation under the deal with CMA CGM.

Earlier this year, SSES completed the first bunkering operation to an MSC containership with the large LNG bunkering vessel, Hai Gang Wei Lai.

In April, SIPG also signed a deal with South Korea’s HMM to bunker its vessels with LNG and methanol.

SSES also delivers LNG fuel to vessels owned by Eastern Pacific Shipping.