The bunkering vessel ENGIE Zeebrugge performed its first deliveries of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel to two new gas-propelled pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs) at the Belgian port of Zeebrugge.
The LNG bunkering operations with UECC’s ships Auto Eco and Auto Energy were conducted at the same time as the cargo operations for the PCTCs were taking place.
“The first ship-to-ship bunkering operations are a key milestone in the development of the nascent LNG bunkering market, which needs the collaboration of many stakeholders to gain a foothold,” ENGIE informed.
ENGIE Zeebrugge, the world’s first purpose-built LNG bunkering vessel, arrived in Zeebrugge at the beginning of April after delivery from Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction. It is now conducting a weekly service to UECC’s vessels and is the world’s first LNG bunkering vessel to perform regular ship-to-ship bunkering services.
The bunkering vessel, which loads LNG at Fluxys’ LNG terminal, is jointly owned by ENGIE, Mitsubishi Corporation, NYK Line, and Fluxys. With an LNG capacity of 5,000 m3, it will service all types of ships in Northern Europe from its home port of Zeebrugge, under the brand Gas4Sea.