Hapag-Lloyd’s converted LNG containership arrives in Hamburg

Hapag-Lloyd’s converted LNG-powered containership Brussels Express has arrived in Germany’s Hamburg as part of the vessel’s maiden voyage from China.

The world’s first large containership LNG retrofit sailed into its home port of Hamburg for the first time during the weekend, Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd said in a statement.

To remind, LNG Prime reported on June 1 that the 15,000 TEU Brussels Express, previously known as Sajir, had completed its first bunkering operation in the Dutch port of Rotterdam. Shell’s 6,500-cbm Cardissa bunkered the vessel.

A spokeswoman said then that the operation was rather a trial. The vessel would complete its first commercial LNG bunkering on its second round voyage in Singapore.

The ship is not yet operating exclusively on LNG. Hapag-Lloyd said in the statement on Monday it expects to complete the “final guarantee works” at the end of this round voyage.

In the future, the ship would bunker twice per round voyage: in Singapore and in Rotterdam.

Hapag-Lloyd’s converted LNG containership arrives in Hamburg
Image: Hapag-Lloyd

“LNG is currently the most promising fuel”

Hapag-Lloyd put back the vessel in service on its Europe-Far East trade on April 1, following the completion of conversion works at China’s Huarun Dadong yard.

Moreover, the vessel now features a GTT 6,700-cbm LNG fuel tank but also MAN dual-fuel propulsion. It will primarily sail on LNG with low-sulphur fuel oil as a backup.

“The fact that a retrofitting of this scale had never been done before meant that we faced numerous challenges – from the planning to the implementation. We have broken new ground with the conversion, and we will now be testing it very precisely in real-world operation,” said Richard von Berlepsch, managing director fleet management at Hapag-Lloyd.

“Fossil LNG is currently the most promising fuel on the path towards zero emissions. The medium-term goal is to have CO2-neutral shipping operations using synthetic natural gas (SNG),” he said.

Hapag-Lloyd is one of the world’s largest liner shipping companies. The firm operates a fleet of 241 containerships with a total transport capacity of 1.7 million TEU.

Most Popular

TotalEnergies CEO, Mozambique president talk LNG project restart

Chapo, who started his mandate as the president of Mozambique on January 15, announced the meeting in a post...

Germany to receive third Plaquemines LNG cargo

The 2021-built 174,000-cbm, Isabella, was on Tuesday anchored in the North Sea, offshore Wilhelmshaven and Brunsbüttel, where DET’s FSRU-based...

Venture Global gets OK to introduce gas to seventh Plaquemines liquefaction block

The US FERC approved Venture Global Plaquemines LNG’s request from January 22 to commission and introduce hazardous fluids to...

More News Like This

Shell makes executive changes

UK-based LNG giant Shell has appointed two new directors after Huibert Vigeveno, downstream, renewables, and energy solutions director, decided...

YPF, Indian firms ink Argentina LNG deal

According to a statement by YPF, the firm signed the MoU with GAIL, Oil India, and ONGC Videsh...

Shell expects ‘significantly lower’ LNG trading results in Q4

Shell announced this in its fourth-quarter update note on Wednesday. "Trading and optimization results are expected to be significantly lower...

Shell gets first cargo under new Oman LNG deal

Oman LNG announced the shipment via social media on Tuesday. Howveher, the firm did not provide any further details regarding...