LNG giant Shell has expanded its global LNG bunkering network with the completion of its first operation in the port of Zeebrugge, Belgium.
According to a social media post by Shell’s head of downstream LNG, Tahir Faruqui, Shell completed the maiden operation in the port of Zeebrugge, the second-largest port in Belgium, last weekend.
During the operation, Shell supplied LNG to a pure car and truck carrier (PTPC) owned by its customer, Anji Shipping (Hong Kong), a subsidiary of Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, Faruqui said.
The LNG dual-fuel PCTC with a capacity of 7,600 units, SAIC Anji Sincerity, took LNG from the 5,200-cbm bunkering vessel, Green Zeebrugge.
Shell joined forces with the port of Zeebrugge and its agency Hoppe Maritime Group for this first bunkering, which expands the company’s global marine LNG fueling network to 20 locations across 12 countries, Faruqui said.
In January this year, China’s Jiangnan Shipyard delivered SAIC Anji Sincerity to compatriot SAIC Anji Logistics.
Jiangnan claims this is currently the world’s largest LNG-powered car carrier in operation.
SAIC Motor said that SAIC Anji Sincerity will transport the first batch of new vehicles of China’s brands SAIC, Dongfeng Motor, and Yutong to Europe.
As per Shell’s LNG bunkering network, the LNG giant added last year two more LNG bunkering locations in Europe, Flushing, and Antwerp.
After this, Shell also completed the first LNG bunkering operation in the Caribbean with the 18,000-cbm bunkering vessel, New Frontier 2.