Containerships Ltd signs LNG supply agreement with Shell
In preparation for receiving the first of 6 newbuild dual-fuel engine technology container vessels to its fleet in 2017, Containerships Ltd Oy has signed a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) supply agreement with Shell, confirming the company’s intention to bring LNG fuel technology to European shortsea container logistics. Containerships is the first to sign up for refueling from Shell’s planned bunker vessel.
All vessels will use liquefied natural gas (LNG) as their main fuel and are able to burn conventional marine diesel oil/heavy fuel if necessary.
Containerships has chosen Shell as a key partner to supply and bunker LNG. The contract includes bunkering of LNG for the first four Containerships LNG vessels at the Port of Rotterdam. The technical design of the vessels allows for only one bunkering location within a normal “loop”.
“I am delighted to announce that Containerships has signed a partnership agreement with Shell which secures the supply of LNG for our first four vessels. This is a vital component of our LNG strategy. The process of evaluating the many different alternatives has been lengthy and extensive, and we believe the solution we have found together with Shell will be mutually rewarding.” said Containerships CEO Kari-PekkaLaaksonen.
The newly signed LNG supply contract brings Shell and Containerships together with a key role in making LNG a real alternative marine fuel within the North and Baltic Sea. With the arrival of the new vessels Containerships says it will be the first shortsea container operator in Europe to run ships on LNG.
Work commences on Shell’s bunker vessel
In an associated Press Release, Shell says STX Offshore & Shipbuilding has commenced the construction of its LNG bunker vessel. The steel cutting ceremony of the specialized LNG bunker vessel took place in Korea on the 4th of December, with representatives from Shell and STX Offshore & Shipbuilding.
The new LNG bunker vessel will be based at the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, and will load from the new LNG break bulk terminal currently under construction by the Gas Access to Europe (GATE) terminal. Once ready, it will deliver to LNG-fuelled vessels in northwest Europe. The vessel is also sea-going and, therefore, able to bunker customers at other locations.
The unique vessel will have a capacity to carry 6,500 cubic metres of LNG fuel. Featuring an innovative transfer system and sub cooler unit, it will be able to load from big or small terminals and able to bunker a wide variety of customer vessels.
“The supply agreement between Shell and Containerships is another example of the marine LNG fuel supply chain coming together,” says Lauran Wetemans, Shell’s General Manager Downstream LNG. “Working together with customers like Containerships is critical to encourage the use of LNG as a fuel in the marine sector, and we’re committed to helping make the transition to LNG.”
https://www.ngvglobal.com/blog/containerships-dual-fuel-newbuilds-to-bunker-with-shell-lng-1208