MPA launches first ship-to-ship bunkering of an LNG-fuelled oil tanker

The bunkering operation was carried out in partnership with FueLNG Bellina.

The Maritime Port Authority, together with FueLNG, has completed Singapore’s first bunkering of an LNG-fuelled oil tanker.

FueLNG is a joint venture between Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M) and Shell Eastern Petroleum (Pte) Ltd.

FueLNG successfully completed the gas-up and cool down operation for the LNG- powered oil tanker ‘Pacific Emerald’, including the transfer of 3,000m3 of LNG from FueLNG Bellina, Singapore’s first LNG bunkering vessel, to the tanker.

Pacific Emerald is the first of 10 newbuild Aframax tankers chartered by Shell Tankers Singapore (Private) Limited from Sinokor Petrochemical Co Limited. FueLNG is committed to promoting the adoption of LNG as a marine fuel and has been working closely with partners including MPA to boost the growth of Singapore as a global LNG bunkering hub.

“Singapore is pleased to have carried out the first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering for an oil tanker in the Port of Singapore. Today marks another milestone in Singapore’s journey as an LNG bunkering hub. We see increased interest in LNG-fuelled vessels with more of such new vessels on order across various ship types. We look forward to an increase in uptake of LNG as a marine fuel in the Port of Singapore,” chief executive of MPA, Quah Ley Hoon, said.

This milestone follows the completion of Asia’s first ship-to-containership LNG bunkering operation by FueLNG in March 2021.

FueLNG aims to provide a total of about 30 to 50 ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operations in 2021. Besides the Aframax tankers, FueLNG has also lined up bunkering operations for containerships, chemical oil tankers, and bulk carriers.