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The LoI is for one firm and one optional LNG bunkering vessel with a capacity of 20,000 cbm, the sources told LNG Prime.
The price per vessel is said to be approximately $87 million.
According to the sources, the shipbuilding contract could be signed as early as next month.
Last month, CIMC SOE announced that it has secured orders for two 20,000-cbm and one 18,900-cbm LNG bunkering and supply vessels.
To date, CIMC SOE has secured a total of 10 orders for 20,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessels and three orders for 18,900-cbm bunkering vessels which feature type C LNG tanks.
First LNG bunkering vessel owned either by CMA CGM or Capital
LNG Prime was the first to report in November last year that French shipping giant CMA CGM and Evangelos Marinakis-backed Capital formed a joint venture to provide up to two LNG bunkering vessels for TotalEnergies.
If confirmed, this would be the first LNG bunkering vessel owned either by CMA CGM or Capital.
Last year, TotalEnergies and CMA CGM signed a deal to develop a 50/50 logistics joint venture dedicated to implementing and operating an LNG bunkering supply solution at the Dutch port of Rotterdam.
The joint venture will capitalize on TotalEnergies’ established logistics infrastructure in the ARA region, where the 18,600-cbm LNG bunkering vessel Gas Agility has been in operation since 2020.
As part of this new logistics joint venture, a new LNG bunkering vessel will be positioned in Rotterdam by the end of 2028 and jointly operated.
In August, China’s Hudong-Zhonghua said it had secured another order to build one 18,600-cbm LNG bunkering vessel for TotalEnergies and Spain’s shipping firm Ibaizabal.
Hudong-Zhonghua stated that this is an optional vessel as part of the 1+1 order announced in July last year, and it is scheduled for delivery in 2028, with plans to serve in the Dutch port of Rotterdam.
TotalEnergies continues to expand its LNG bunkering business
As mentioned above, TotalEnergies’ first LNG bunkering vessel, Gas Agility, has been in operation in Rotterdam since November 2020.
In January 2022, TotalEnergies launched its second chartered LNG bunker vessel, Gas Vitality, into operations in Marseille, France.
A third LNG bunker vessel, Brassavola, will also serve TotalEnergies commercial LNG bunkering operations at the port of Singapore, where the company operates under its LNG bunker supplier license, awarded by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.
In 2024, TotalEnergies also took a final investment decision on the Marsa LNG bunkering project in Oman.
The first Ibaizabal vessel ordered at Hudong-Zhonghua will serve this project.