Avenir LNG’s dual-purpose bunkering and supply vessel Avenir Accolade has loaded a cargo at the Croatian FSRU located in the northern Adriatic Sea. The small-scale vessel is now on its way to commission the Higas terminal on the Italian island of Sardinia.
State-owned terminal operator LNG Croatia said in a statement on Saturday this marked the first such small-scale LNG reloading operation carried out in the Mediterranean.
Prior to this operation, the FSRU received a cargo at the Krk facility from the Freeport LNG terminal in the US.
Following the completion of the small-scale cargo transfer, the 7,500-cbm Avenir Accolade departed to Sardinia, LNG Croatia said.
To remind, Avenir Accolade recently met offshore Malaysia with its sister vessel Avenir Advantage for a bunkering operation, after it headed towards Europe.
Launch expected soon
Avenir LNG, a joint venture consisting of Stolt-Nielsen, Hoegh and Golar, previously said it expected to commission the Higas terminal by the end of this month. Avenir Accolade should arrive in the Port of Oristano on May 26, its AIS data shows.
The London-based small-scale player holds an 80 percent stake in the terminal developer Higas while the Italian engineering firm Gas & Heat, who is also the EPC contractor, has a 10 percent stake.
CPL Concordia also holds 10 percent share in the storage, regasification and distribution facility in the Port of Oristano.
Higas started building the $43.2 million terminal in Sardinia, first such facility in Italy, in 2018.
The terminal features six horizontal low-pressure cryogenic Type C tank storage tanks with a total capacity of 10,800 cbm.
It will load up to 8,000 LNG trucks per year – equivalent to 180,000 tons per year – via two loading bays.
Additionally, the LNG would mainly go for use as fuel for automotive, industrial, civil and marine industries.
The terminal will also have a connection to a natural gas pipeline system in order to supply the local industry.
Spain’s Reganosa will maintain and operate the terminal as part of a deal revealed in February.
