Europe’s largest inland LNG bunkering barge launched

Turkey’s RMK Marine has launched an 8,000-cbm inland LNG bunkering barge for owners Victrol and Sogestran and charterer Shell.

The launching ceremony for the vessel named Energy Stockholm took place on July 7, according to a statement by Belgium’s Victrol and French Sogestran.

LNG Shipping, a joint venture of the two firms, will own and operate this vessel, while Shell will charter it for operations in the ports of Zeebrugge, Antwerp, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam.

The firms changed the vessel’s name as during the keel-laying ceremony in March this year, the partners announced the vessel as LNG Erasmus.

They claim that this is Europe’s largest inland waterway LNG bunkering barge and the first to use battery technology and shore power, which will help reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.

Italy’s Gas & Heat will supply the tanks and cargo handling system for the new 8,000-cbm vessel designed by the International Naval Engineering Consultants, while MAN will deliver the dual-fuel engines.

Shell’s LNG bunkering business on the rise

Shell already charters the bunkering barge, LNG London, from LNG Shipping.

Launched in July 2019, this inland LNG bunkering barge, claimed to be the first such vessel in Europe, has a capacity of 3,000 cbm.

Last month, Shell added two more locations to its global LNG bunkering network as the number of LNG-powered vessels continues to grow.

The new LNG bunkering locations include Flushing and Antwerp.

“We are steadily expanding our bunker assets to enable LNG’s immediate availability and accessibility in supporting shipping decarbonization,” Shell’s head of downstream LNG, Tahir Faruqui, said.

“The new barge will increase Shell’s bunkering capacity in the ARA region. She will soon join our LNG fueling network, which is the largest in the world with 12 bunker vessels across 19 locations,” he said.

Most Popular

Excelerate’s FSRU arrives in Germany

Excelerate’s 138,000-cbm FSRU Excelsior has finally arrived in Germany, where it will start serving DET's second LNG import terminal in Wilhelmshaven.

Venture Global to introduce gas to tenth Plaquemines liquefaction block

US LNG exporter Venture Global LNG has received approval from the US FERC to introduce natural gas to the tenth liquefaction block at the Plaquemines LNG terminal in Louisiana as part of the plant’s commissioning process.

Woodside assessing tariff impact on Louisiana LNG

Australian LNG player Woodside is assessing the impact of recent US tariffs and other trade measures on its Louisiana LNG project, according to Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill.

More News Like This

Venture Global launches Calcasieu Pass LNG commercial ops

US LNG exporter Venture Global LNG has launched commercial operations at its Calcasieu Pass LNG terminal in Louisiana, some 68 months from its final investment decision and 38 months after production start.

YPF expects more supermajors to join Argentina LNG project, CEO says

Argentina’s state-owned oil and gas company YPF expects more supermajors to become equity partners in the planned Argentina LNG project following a deal with Shell, according to CEO Horacio Marin.

Shell expects Q1 LNG trading results to be in line compared to previous quarter

LNG giant Shell expects trading and optimization results for its integrated gas business in the first quarter of this year to be in line compared with the fourth quarter of last year.

Peru LNG terminal sent five shipments in March

Peru LNG’s liquefaction plant at Pampa Melchorita has shipped five liquefied natural gas cargoes in March, one more than in the previous month.