French LNG terminal operator Elengy, a unit of Engie’s GRTgaz, has recently launched a new small-scale LNG carrier loading service at its Fos Tonkin terminal on France’s Mediterranean coast.
According to a statement by Elengy, the firm completed the first small-scale loading operation at the LNG facility located near the southern city of Marseille on September 28 thanks to fitting-out works carried out to accommodate smaller vessels.
Elengy did not provide any additional information regarding the operation.
After the Fos Cavaou LNG terminal, which has already carried out some 40 LNG loadings, Fos Tonkin becomes Elengy’s second terminal to provide this service, enabling Elengy to offer a cumulative number of almost 70 loading slots per year at Fos-sur-Mer, the firm said.
Besides these two terminals, Elengy also operates the Montoir-de-Bretagne facility on the Atlantic coast.
Elengy said the development of this new service at Fos Tonkin “contributes to the decarbonization of maritime transport by meeting the growing bunkering needs of LNG-powered carriers.”
After this first loading operation at the terminal, small carriers will be able to bunker LNG-powered containerships, ferries and cruise liners in the port of Marseille-Fos, it said.
The Fos Tonkin terminal now offers 18 loading slots per year for small scale LNG vessels of a capacity up to 40,000 cbm.
Elengy added that these capacities will be available on a “first come first served” basis.
Launched in 1972, the Fos Tonkin LNG terminal has a storage capacity of 80,000 cbm and one jetty able to receive LNG carrier’s with a capacity below 75,000 cbm.
