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TotalEnergies announced the contract in a statement on Thursday.
China’s Hudong–Zhonghua will build the new vessel and deliver it by the end of 2026.
TotalEnergies said the vessel will join its current fleet of three deployed LNG bunker vessels.
These include the 18,600-cbm LNG bunkering vessel Gas Agility, which has been positioned in the Port of Rotterdam, the 18,600-cbm Gas Vitality, operated in the Port of Marseille, and also the 12,000-cbm Brassavola located in the Port of Singapore.
LNG Prime was the first to report in June this year, citing shipbuilding sources, that TotalEnergies had selected Hudong-Zhonghua and Ibaizabal for the construction and charter of one LNG bunkering vessel.
In July, Hudong-Zhonghua said the shipbuilder was selected as the winner to build the 18,600-cbm ship in “fierce competition with strong foreign rivals”.
The vessel is worth around $90 million.
In addition, the deal includes one optional “V3.0 version” 18,600-cbm LNG bunkering vessel.
Hudong-Zhonghua said the new LNG bunkering vessel will be 135.9 meters long, 24.5 meters wide, and 16 meters deep, while Bureau Veritas (BV) will classify the ship.
This new vessel will be similar to the LNG bunkering ships, Gas Vitality and Gas Agility, Hudong-Zhonghua built for owner Japan’s MOL and charterer TotalEnergies.
Marsa LNG
TotalEnergies said this new LNG bunkering vessel will expand the company’s global presence in bunkering hubs.
In particular, this additional vessel might be deployed in Oman, where the company is developing the Marsa LNG project with the objective to provide LNG to the shipping sector in the Gulf.
TotalEnergies said the vessel will supply LNG to a wide range of vessels (containerships, tankers, large cruise ships, ferries) at TotalEnergies’ LNG bunkering hubs.
In April, TotalEnergies made a final investment decision on the Marsa LNG bunkering project in Oman.
Moreover, Technip Energies won the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract for the project with an LNG production capacity of 1 mtpa.
The Marsa LNG project is an integrated complex developed by TotalEnergies with a 80 percent share while Oman’s OQ has 20 percent.
According to TotalEnergies, the liquefaction plant will be built in the port of Sohar, and LNG production is expected to start by the first quarter of 2028.
“We are very proud of this agreement with Ibaizabal, which reinforces our position as a main player in LNG bunkering,” said Louise Tricoire, TotalEnergies senior vice president, aviation, and marine fuels.
“With new LNG-fuelled vessels coming on stream at a rapid pace, we are committed to playing our part in responding to the sector’s increasing demand for this fuel which can help global shipping meet its decarbonization ambitions,” Tricoire said.