Singapore’s FueLNG, a joint venture between Keppel Offshore & Marine and Shell, on Thursday named Singapore’s first LNG bunkering vessel.
The venture held a virtual ceremony in Singapore for the FueLNG Bellina being built at Keppel’s Nantong yard in China.
Scheduled to be operational by end-2020, the vessel will enable FueLNG to be the first to provide regular ship-to-ship LNG bunkering services within the Singapore port.
When operational, the vessel’s first contracts will be to provide ship-to-ship LNG bunkering to the Shell-chartered tankers and for one of Hapag Lloyd’s container vessels, FueLNG said.
The venture will also provide LNG fueling from Singapore’s first dedicated bunkering facility which will be built by Keppel O&M on its Floating Living Lab.
Additionally, Shell will supply LNG to the facility when it becomes operational at the end of 2021.
Singapore aims to become LNG bunkering hub
The 7,500-cbm dual-fuel LNG bunkering vessel supports initiatives implemented by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore to increase the adoption of LNG as a marine fuel, facilitating the growth of Singapore as a global bunkering hub.
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.
Addititionally, 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.