China’s Keppel Nantong Shipyard has launched a bunkering vessel for Singapore’s FueLNG, a joint venture between Keppel Offshore & Marine and Shell.
The ship claimed to be Singapore’s first LNG bunkering vessel was moved from land to water on May 28.
According to FueLNG, the construction of the 7,500-cbm LNG bunkering vessel is “progressing smoothly”.
The Chinese yard is building the vessel according to an LNG design developed by Keppel’s technology arm. It expects to complete the vessel in the fourth quarter of this year.
The ship will enable FueLNG to provide regular ship-to-ship LNG bunkering services within the Singapore port.
The vessel supports initiatives implemented by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.
The authority is pushing for LNG as fuel as part of efforts to position Singapore as a global bunkering hub.
The ship will also be able to run on LNG and on marine diesel oil.
Key features of the vessel include high manoeuvrability which enables bunkering without tug assistance as well as propulsion and power management systems that optimise fuel consumption.
The vessel has a filling rate range of up to 1000 cbm of LNG per hour.
It will be able to supply LNG to various types of vessels at heights ranging from 3-23 meters above water level.
Japan’s K-Line will manage the vessel as part of a deal signed last year.