- Key players in the North American LNG bunkering and refuelling market will be meet at Riviera’s LNG Bunkering and Refuelling, Americas conference, 18-19 February 2021.
- They will discuss the technical, operational and regulatory challenges the industry is facing.
- High on the agenda will be the region’s growing LNG bunker vessel fleet.
A recent news article published in the Riviera reveals that North American LNG bunkering readies to meet the surge of new LNG-powered ships.
Dual-fuel LNG-powered ships
Shipowners operating dual-fuel, LNG-powered ships will find more options for bunkering their vessels when they call at ports in North America, following the delivery of the LNG supply and bunker articulated tug barge (ATB) Q-LNG 4000 to owner Q-LNG Transport.
Under long-term charter to Shell North America LNG, Q-LNG 4000 performed its first ship-to-ship transfer in Jacksonville, Florida, refueling the Liberian-flagged dual-fuel, pure car truck carrier (PCTC) SIEM Aristotle in January.
The PCTC was on its maiden voyage from Emsden, Germany to North America.
Q-4000 and Clean Jacksonville
At 4,000 m3 capacity, Q-4000 is significantly larger than Clean Jacksonville, the 2,200-m3 LNG bunker barge based in Jacksonville.
Both are unique vessels and significant components of the growing LNG bunkering infrastructure in the Sunshine State, the US and Canada to support domestic and international shipowners that use LNG as fuel.
“Most of the shipowners we have spoken to who are looking at newbuilds are considering LNG-fuelled vessels as their preferred option to support their business case and environmental credentials,” a Shell spokesperson told LNG Shipping & Terminals.
LNG plans in Shell’s agenda
LNG figures strongly into Shell’s plans in the years ahead, as it reshapes its energy portfolio to support the global transition to clean energy.
“Shell has a strategic plan to develop a global LNG bunkering network complementing other developments in Asia, Northern Europe and the western Mediterranean,” said the Shell spokesperson.
“It is aiming to double its LNG bunkering network by the mid-2020s, to around 15 major ports on the key international trading routes. We expect to further grow the network in the key locations needed to provide the key market segments flexibility in their fueling options.”
A recent report by SEA/LNG detailed the growing global LNG supply infrastructure.
The accompanying graphic shows LNG bunkering facilities in operation and in development, with a heavy concentration in Europe.
Canada’s first LNG ATB
Plans are moving forward for Canada’s first LNG ATB. Cryopeak LNG anticipates moving towards FID on the LNG bunker barge by the end of 2021, with the start of operations in 2023, delivering LNG as a fuel to shipping companies calling at ports on the west coast.
South of Vancouver in the Port of Tacoma, the first LNG bunkering facility on the US west coast will be ready to open in Q2 2021.
Tacoma LNG will be a multi-use facility, providing LNG for Puget LNG’s commercial customers, and the necessary natural gas reserves for PSE’s utility customers.
Its main maritime consumers will be TOTE Maritime Alaska’s dual-fuel, LNG-fuelled Orca-class roro vessels, which operate weekly between Tacoma and Alaska.
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Source: Riviera
