Sweden: World’s First Fuelling Vessel for LNG Christened

Yesterday, the world’s first fuelling vessel for LNG (liquefied natural gas) was christened in a traditional christening ceremony in Stockholm, by Helena Bonnier, the chairman of Ports of Stockholm (Stockholms Hamnar), in the presence of the Minister of Infrastructure, Catharina Elmsäter-Svärd, among others.

– In the spring of 2012, the Swedish government decided to support what was then a TEN-T request about a LNG fuelling vessel. One year later, the ship is christened and constitutes a an additional component in a competitive maritime shipping with quality, safety and a strong environmental profile, says the Swedish Minister of Infrastructure, Catharina Elmsäter-Svärd.

The LNG fuelling vessel, Seagas, is the first in the world of its kind, and is classified under the same regulations that apply to oceangoing LNG-tankers. The fuelling vessel will on a daily basis, supply 60-70 tons of LNG to M/S Viking Grace, the new cruise-ship of Viking Line, when the ship is moored at Stadsgården in Stockholm. The fuelling process takes just under an hour and is done from ship to ship through a completely new way of bunkering fuel. Seagas is stationed at Loudden in Stockholm.

– LNG implies major environmental benefits in comparison to traditional maritime fuel. It is gratifying that we, thanks to the LNG-terminal in Nynäshamn and our purpose-built fuelling vessel, Seagas, can contribute to the infrastructure solution that enables M/S Viking Grace to bunker LNG from ship to ship in the port of Stockholm, says Jan Bäckvall, CEO, AGA AB.

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AGA, March 26, 2013