Shell to Provide LNG to SABIC Vessels in Teesport

Saudi Arabian petrochemical giant Saudi Arabia Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) has chosen Shell LNG as a supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel for its chartered vessels at a temporary LNG bunkering facility in Teesport, UK. 

This agreement is a bridge solution until SABIC completes a permanent LNG bunkering facility at Teessside, scheduled to be operational later this year.

In May 2015, Shell bunkered the SABIC-chartered vessels Coral Star & Coral Sticho in Teesport, United Kingdom. This was the first bunkering operation for Shell in the UK.

”We are very proud of achieving this milestone for LNG bunkering. The intensive collaboration between Shell, SABIC, Anthony Veder and contractors Schenk, Unitrove, PD Ports and Liqal has enabled this success,” Arjan Stavast, Shell LNG Business Development Manager, said.

Shell’s temporary bunkering facility in Teesport is expected to increase efficiency and reduce operational costs of SABIC’s vessels, as they will no longer have to bunker the fuel in Zeebrugge, Belgium.

Paul Ruigt, Category Manager for Shipping & Barging at SABIC Supply Chain Chemicals Europe, said: ”The establishment of the LNG bunkering solution enables us to run the LEG carriers fully on LNG and supports us in meeting our targets on emission reduction. The bunkering solution is part of a bigger project to realize a breakthrough in the application of LNG for short sea shipping by starting and developing a dedicated LNG demand and supply chain in the United Kingdom. This pioneering project is co-financed by the European Union.”