State-owned LNG terminal operator Deutsche Energy Terminal has awarded a contract to compatriot tugboat owner Fairplay Towage.
Under the contract, Fairplay will be in charge to provide all assisting tugs for the DET-operated FSRU-based LNG import terminals located in Brunsbüttel, Stade, and Wilhelmshaven.
Fairplay said the contract started effective January 1, 2024 and would run for “several years” with extension options.
In November last year, DET issued a public tender for the provision of tug services, and the award of the contract follows a “quite exhausting” tender process and negotiations on terms and conditions, Fairplay said.
Fairplay did not provide the price tag of the contract
Besides this deal, DET recently awarded a contract to Lithuanian LNG terminal operator KN for the commercial management of its four terminals.
Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action established Düsseldorf-based DET in January 2023 to manage FSRU-based LNG import terminals.
DET currently operates Germany’s first LNG terminals on the North Sea coast, the Wilhelmshaven 1 LNG terminal, developed by Uniper, and the Brunsbüttel LNG terminal, developed by RWE.
Additionally, DET will operate two upcoming terminals: the second LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven and the LNG terminal in Stade.
The German government, helped by Uniper, RWE, and TES chartered in total five FSRUs from Hoegh LNG, Dynagas, and Excelerate Energy.
Uniper and RWE already installed Hoegh LNG’s FSRUs Hoegh Esperanza and Hoegh Gannet in Wilhelmshaven and Brunsbüttel.
Also, the government sub-chartered the FSRU Transgas Power, owned by Dynagas, to private firm Deutsche Regas. This FSRU will serve the planned LNG import terminal in the port of Mukran.
DET previously told LNG Prime it is planning to commission both its FSRU-based facilities in Stade and the second terminal in Wilhelmshaven in the first quarter of 2024.