Norway’s Utkilen working on LNG-powered fleet

Norwegian shipping firm Utkilen said half of its core fleet of chemical tankers would be able to use LNG or LBG in 2025, as part of the company’s plans to slash emissions.

Utkilen said in a statement last week it would invest more than 125 million euros ($131 million) in “green technology” and has ordered four multifuel chemical tankers at Turkey’s Icdas.

The 6,700-dwt vessels will run on LNG and gas oil, with a view of using methanol and ammonia in the future, according to the firm.

“In recent years, there has only been a small inflow of new chemical tankers in short sea shipping in Northern Europe,” Utkilen said.

The new ships will have optimal hull shape and can be facilitated for battery and shore power connections, thus be able to carry out port stays completely emission-free, according to the firm.

Moreover, Norwegian suppliers would deliver a “great deal” of the equipment for the new ships, it said.

The vessels will feature equipment from Framo, Warstila, Hoglund, Scanjet, Air Products, and several others.

Utkilen will start taking deliveries of these ships in 2024.

VesselsValue data shows Utkilen ordered these vessels in February with two scheduled for delivery in 2024 and two in 2025.

Existing ships

In addition to these newbuilds, four of Utkilen’s existing modern ships would become “more eco-friendly when they are prepared for LNG fuel during 2022/23,” the firm said.

Utkilen did not provide additional information regarding these vessels.

Norway’s Hoglund said in August last year it had secured a contract to retrofit four LNG-ready chemical tankers owned by Utkilen.

The project will see the design and installation of fuel gas supply systems (FGSS) on Utkilen’s LNG-ready sister vessels, namely Mostraum, Vikstraum, Saltstraum, and Sydstraum.

According to its website, Utkilen operates a fleet of 22 chemical tankers. The vessels include six working in the global trade and 16 in its core fleet.

“We have owners who invest long-term. In a time of great uncertainty in relation to to future green technology, we choose to make large investments that will considerably reduce our carbon footprint already in 2022,” Siri-Anne Mjatvedt, CEO of Utkilen, said in the statement.

“There is currently a lot of talk about hydrogen and ammonia, but for us, who transport chemicals primarily in Northern Europe, this technology is not ready yet,” she said.

“We choose to focus on accessible, eco-friendly, and flexible technology,” the CEO said.

Following delivery of the newbuilds, Half of Utkilen’s core fleet would have the capability to use LNG and biogas (LGB), Mjatvedt added.

Most Popular

Another FSRU arrives in Egypt

The 160,000-cbm FSRU Energos Eskimo has arrived in Egypt from Jordan, according to shipping data. The unit is one of four FSRUs that will serve a charter deal with Egypt's EGAS as the country seeks to meet its growing demand for natural gas.

Venture Global’s Plaquemines LNG to commission third jetty

US LNG exporter Venture Global LNG has received approval from the US FERC to introduce hazardous fluids to the third jetty at its Plaquemines LNG export plant in Louisiana.

MOL’s LNG carrier to feature SOFC tech

Japan's MOL and South Korea's Samsung Heavy Industries have received approval from classification society LR for the design of a 174,000-cbm LNG carrier integrating solid oxide fuel fell (SOFC) technology.

More News Like This

Wartsila bags regas module gig from Hoegh Evi

A unit of Finnish tech firm Wartsila has secured a contract from Norway's Hoegh Evi to supply a regasification module, which will be installed onboard the LNG carrier Hoegh Gandria. Once converted, the FSRU will serve in Egypt.

Hoegh Evi, Wartsila develop floating ammonia-to-hydrogen cracker

Norwegian FSRU player Hoegh Evi and a unit of Finnish tech firm Wartsila have developed what they say is the world’s first floating ammonia-to-hydrogen cracker.

Wartsila bags bio-LNG gigs

Wartsila Gas Solutions, a unit of Finland’s tech firm Wartsila, has secured a contract from Suomen Lantakaasu to supply production solutions for two bio-LNG plants in Finland.

CIMC SOE completes Croatian regas module

Chinese shipbuilder Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering has completed Wartsila's regasification module that will be installed onboard the 140,000-cbm FSRU, LNG Croatia.