International
First simultaneous operations of LNG bunkering in Europe
Containerships, subsidiary of the CMA CGM Group, has successfully completed its first simultaneous operations (SIMOPS) of bunkering, which allows for the concomitant bunkering of LNG and execution of loading and unloading procedures. The SIMOPS bunkering was carried out on the LNG-powered CONTAINERSHIPS NORD vessel in the Port of Rotterdam. The ship thus became the first container carrier performing SIMOPS in Europe by means of “ship-to-ship” bunkering.
To ensure a fluent and safe ship-to-ship bunkering, Containerships worked closely together with Shell, its bunker supplier, with the Port of Rotterdam and with the RST Terminal. The vessel received approximately 200 tons of LNG. This unprecedented achievement paves the way for this procedure to be performed on other LNG-powered vessels, including the recently delivered CONTAINERSHIPS POLAR, the sister ship of the CONTAINERSHIPS NORD.
Thanks to SIMOPS, the ship’s stay in the port can be reduced significantly and operational delays avoided. Therefore, transit times can be reduced, offering CMA CGM Group customers a highly reliable and fast connection between Northern Europe and the Baltics.
A pioneer in the use of LNG to power container ships, CMA CGM is set to take delivery of 20 LNG-powered vessels by 2022, including nine 22,000-TEU ships which are scheduled to be delivered from 2020.
