French energy giant TotalEnergies and compatriot shipping firm CMA CGM have completed what they say is the first ship-to-containership LNG bunkering operation in the Port of Marseille Fos.
The 18,600-cbm Gas Vitality, chartered by TotalEnergies and owned by Japan’s MOL, bunkered the 15,000 TEU LNG-powered containership CMA CGM BALI in the port, according to a joint statement on Friday.
Singapore’s EPS owns the 2021-built LNG-powered containership while CMA CGM charters it. The vessel works on CMA CGM’s MEX 1 service, connecting Asia and South Europe.
The containership received around 6,000 cbm of LNG from Gas Agility alongside the Eurofos container terminal, while it carried out cargo operations simultaneously, the statement said.
This marked the first ship-to-containership LNG bunkering operation in the port as Shell and Carnival previously completed the first STS bunkering operation to a cruise ship in the French port that is looking to become an LNG bunkering hub for the Mediterranean region.
France’s first LNG bunkering vessel
At the end of December, France’s first LNG bunkering vessel, Gas Vitality, loaded the cargo at Elengy’s Fos Cavaou terminal near the southern city of Marseille.
Also, this fueling with CMA CGM Bali is the first for the 135 meters long vessel and marks the beginning of its operations in the area.
To remind, the vessel arrived in Marseille in December after a long trip from China.
The Bureau Veritas-classed vessel will fuel CMA CGM’s containerships but also MSC Cruises’ upcoming LNG-powered cruise ships that call at the French port.
V.Ships France will operate the vessel under the French flag.
Chinese shipbuilder Hudong-Zhonghua held a naming ceremony for this second LNG bunkering vessel owned by MOL and chartered by TotalEnergies in October.
Gas Vitality has similar specifications as its sister ship, Gas Agility, which already works for TotalEnergies from the Dutch port of Rotterdam.