China’s state-owned energy giant CNOOC has completed another bunkering operation to Matson Navigation’s LNG-powered containership, Daniel K. Inouye, in Ningbo.
CNOOC Gas & Power said in a statement that the operation took place on January 8 in the Ningbo-Zhoushan port, and it markets the first bonded international LNG bunkering operation for the firm in 2024.
The firm used what it says is the world’s largest LNG bunkering vessel, Hai Yang Shi You 301, to deliver LNG to the LNG-powered containership.
In November 2023, the two vessels completed their first operation as part of a deal between CNOOC and Matson.
Prior to that, CNOOC joined forces with France’s CMA CGM in June to complete the first LNG bunkering operation at the Meishan terminal in the Ningbo-Zhoushan port.
Since then, CNOOC wrapped up in total six LNG bunkering operations, according to CNOOC Gas & Power.
Matson’s LNG containerships
Daniel K. Inouye, built in 2018 by US-based Philly Shipyard, is Matson’s first retrofitted containership and it features three 1350-cbm type C LNG fuel tanks supplied by Singapore’s C-LNG Solutions and MAN’s 7S90ME-GI engine.
Besides this containership, Matson is also retroftting its 2019-built 3,600-teu containership, Kaimana Hila.
The contract with MAN includes converting an MAN B&W S90ME-C10.5 unit to a dual-fuel ME-GI unit capable of running on LNG.
Matson previously said it expects to invest about $35 million in the conversion of Kaimana Hila, the same as for Daniel K. Inouye.
Besides these two vessels, Matson plans to replace the main engine on its containership Manukai with a dual-fuel engine and this will cost about $60 million.
In total, the firm will spend up to $130 million to enable these three ships to use LNG fuel.
In addition to these vessels, Matson ordered in 2022 three new 3,600-teu LNG-powered Aloha Class containerships at compatriot Philly Shipyard for about $1 billion.
Matson will take delivery of these Jones Act compliant vessels in the fourth quarter of 2026 with subsequent deliveries in 2027.
