LNG Bunkering

LNG bunkering well organised and rapidly developing in China

China Classification Society shares data on LNG-fuelled vessels in operation, LNG bunkering policies and more.

Published

8 years ago

September 6, 2018

Admin

The liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered vessel and bunkering sector at China is well organised and rapidly developing, show China Classification Society (CCS) data presented at the Singapore-held 4th LNG Marine Fuel Forum.

As of June 2018, there were 280 LNG-fuelled vessels in operation within China; the total figure comprised of 163 LNG-powered newbuildings, 70 vessels which engines were replaced to use LNG as fuel, and 47 ships with retrofitted engine components to use the gas as bunkers.

A CCS spokesman further shared that a LNG bunkering vessel is currently under construction at an unnamed Chinese yard, with plans for one more, in the works.

There are also 10 onshore LNG bunkering terminals currently being constructed. However, no further details were given for the LNG bunkering vessels and bunkering terminals.

Meanwhile, nine LNG bunkering pontoons have been constructed in China, of which two are currently in operation.

“The first LNG bunkering pontoon Haigangxing No. 1 was delivered in 2013 while Haigangxing No. 2, a pontoon for bunkering oil and LNG, was delivered in December 2016,” he said.

Details of Haigangxing No. 1 are as follows:

LOA	100m
LPP	94.75m
Moulded depth	3.8m
Moulded breath	18.0m
Design draft	1.4m
Gross tonnage	2,498
Net tonnage	749
Tank type	Type C
Tank volume	250m3 x 2
Bunkering capacity	34m3 per hour
Delivery date	September 2013

“The China government is determined to improve the national air quality and has implemented the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan from 2013,” explains the CCS spokesman.

“One important part of this plan is to accelerate clean energy utilisation, including the use of natural gas.”

2013 data from the China Ministry of Environmental Protection show ships accounting for 8.4% of total domestic sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions and 11.3% of total domestic nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in the country, with coastal cities being most effected by air pollution from vessels.

In the similar year, Shanghai encountered 39,255 metric tonnes (mt) of SOx emissions and 43,901 mt of NOx emissions from ships; accounting for 14.2% of regional emissions.

The same period also saw Shenzhen recording 16,300 mt of SOx emissions and 19,254 mt of NOx emissions; accounting for 14.1% of regional emissions.

The environmental findings have led the Chinese government to offer grants and implement three domestic emission control areas (ECAs), located in the Pearl River Delta, Yangtze River Delta, and Bohai Rim region, to control air pollution from vessels.

Moving forward, the CCS spokesman highlighted several challenges for LNG bunkering to become more popular at China.

He notes the Chinese shipping industry will need to overcome a lack of confidence in using LNG as bunker fuel, due to the lack of core LNG technologies and key products for LNG bunkering and insufficient LNG bunkering infrastructure.

Policy barriers such as a limitation on inland waterway LNG transportation activities, a ban on LNG ship-to-ship transfer operations in port areas, and a limitation for LNG-fuelled vessels in passing ship locks, will need to be revaluated.

CCS lately shared an industry update with Manifold Times regarding emission control changes at Shanghai ports, Yangtze River Delta, and Zhejiang Province effective 1 October, 2018.

China’s Ministry of Transport in August issued a letter to various commercial entitles and state-owned energy players to ask for feedback in regards to a draft national LNG bunkering strategy.

Photo credit: China Classification Society
Published: 6 September, 2018

Bunker Fuel

Antwerp-Bruges biofuel bunker sales drops 36% on year in Q2 2026, LNG down 13.4%

Biofuel recorded 26,833 mt in Q2 2026 with 41,939 mt recorded in the same period the year before while port data showed 76,513 mt of LNG being delivered in Q2 2026, down from 88,328 mt.

Published

10 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Admin

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges recently published bunker fuel sales data for the second quarter (Q2) of 2026.

Total bunker sales at the port was 2.05 million metric tonnes (mt) in Q2 2026, compared to sales of 1.99 million mt (+3%) during the similar period in 2025.

Deliveries of ultra low sulphur fuel oil, very low sulphur fuel oil, high sulphur fuel oil and marine gas oil in Q2 2026 (against on year) recorded respectively 164,987 mt (+43.6% from 114,917 mt), 537,926 mt (+12.8% from 476,746 mt), 659,182 mt (+11.6% from 590,544 mt) and 366,329 (-15.7% from 434,766 mt).

Biofuel recorded 26,833 mt in Q2 2026 with 41,939 mt (-36%) recorded in the same period the year before.

Port data showed 76,513 mt of liquefied natural gas (LNG) being delivered as a marine fuel in Q2 2026, down by 13.4% from 88,328 mt in Q2 2025. Meanwhile, there has been no deliveries of methanol at the port for the year so far.

Photo credit: Port of Antwerp-Bruges
Published: 23 July, 2026

LNG Bunkering

PIL’s LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

Published

2 days ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

PIL's LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd on Monday (20 July) said its first 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Elok, recently made her maiden call to Singapore on 15 July.

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

The vessel also incorporated energy-saving features and digital technologies to reduce fuel consumption and enhance operational performance, as well as a bow windshield to improve aerodynamics, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions over the course of long-haul voyages.

“Following Singapore, Kota Elok will continue her voyage on our East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route to South America, calling at ports in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina before returning to Asia,” the company said in a social media post.

Kota Elok also became PIL’s first vessel to receive Lloyd’s Register certification for compliance with the IACS UR E26 and UR E27 cyber security requirements.

Developed by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), UR E26 and UR E27 are mandatory cyber resilience requirements for newbuild vessels contracted from 1 July 2024.

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 21 July, 2026

LNG Bunkering

CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s alternative fuel bunkering infrastructure.

Published

2 days ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

China’s Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co., Ltd. (CIMC SOE) recently signed a contract with Sinopec (Beijing) Clean Energy Co., Ltd. to build a 12,000-cubic metre (m3) LNG bunkering vessel, according to Chinese maritime media.

The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2028 and will support Sinopec’s efforts to expand its presence in the marine clean energy sector.

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s LNG bunkering infrastructure.

With this signing , CIMC Pacific Offshore Engineering’s LNG bunkering vessel orderbook is further strengthened, maintaining its leading position in the global market for small and medium-sized LNG bunkering vessels.

The contract also marked another milestone for CIMC SOE, which has seen a sharp increase in orders and business performance this year amid a surge in domestic LNG vessel demand.

Photo credit: Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering
Published: 21 July, 2026