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Monjasa joined forces with Carnival Corporation’s Costa Cruises for the first LNG bunkering operation which took place on January 4 at Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal B.
During the operation, the Monjasa-chartered 5,200 cbm bunkering vessel, Green Zeebrugge, delivered about 3,000 cbm of LNG to the cruise vessel, Costa Smeralda.
Last month, Monjasa announced it took on charter Green Zeebruge saying it will be the UAE’s first dedicated LNG bunkering vessel.
Previously known as Engie Zeebrugge, the 5,200 cbm bunkering vessel is owned by Japan’s NYK, and it previously worked under charter deals with Shell and Titan.
Green Zeebrugge arrived in Dubai waters on December 26, 2024, following the departure from Amsterdam in November.
According to Monjasa, the vessel was inspected by the authorities in Port Rashid on December 27, and the official bunkering permits were issued to Monjasa by the Dubai Maritime Authority & Dubai Ports Authority.
“We are excited about this first successful supply operation and to pioneer LNG as a new marine fuel option in the UAE. However, reaching this milestone was only possible through the close collaboration of our forward-thinking partners at Carnival and Costa Cruises, Adnoc L&S, and the UAE’s federal and local authorities,” Monjasa CEO Anders Østergaard said.
FSU charter
Monjasa also said that Adnoc Logistics and Services, the shipping unit of UAE’s energy giant Adnoc, has agreed to charter out a suitable LNG carrier to Monjasa for a period of nine months as a floating storage unit (FSU).
The vessel in question is the 2004-built 138,104-cbm LNG carrier, Shandong Juniper.
VessselsValue data shows that Shell sold this steam LNG carrier, previously known as Gemmata, to China’s Taiping & Sinopec Financial Leasing in 2022, while Shandong Marine Energy has a five-year bareboat charter agreement for the LNG carrier.
Monjasa said the LNG carrier will join its fleet by mid-January 2025.
By serving as FSU and performing cargo operations, the Singapore-flagged Shandong Juniper becomes a “key component” in tying together Monjasa’s new operations, the company said.
Looking ahead, Monjasa said it will continue the close collaboration with the UAE authorities, energy companies and shipowners on further developing adequate LNG bunkering infrastructure for the benefit of the increasing dual-fuelled merchant fleet.
