Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co., Ltd. (CIMC SOE) on Friday (21 August) held a groundbreaking ceremony for two 20,000-cubic-metre LNG bunkering vessels being built for GSX Energy.

The two vessels are the third and fourth in a series of four 20,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessels that CIMC Pacific Offshore is constructing for GSX Energy.

Construction of the first vessel began in May, while the second vessel commenced construction on 10 August.

The vessels are 159 metres long, with a beam of 25 metres and a design speed of 13 knots. Each will be equipped with a Wärtsilä dual-fuel main engine and a 1,300 kW shaft generator to meet power requirements during normal operations. A high-voltage shore power system can also be installed at a later stage.

“The simultaneous commencement of construction on both vessels marks a new phase of accelerated construction for this series of projects, fully demonstrating CIMC SOE’s construction capabilities and project management expertise,” CIMC SOE said.

Photo credit: Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering
Published: 26 August, 2026

The European Commission (EC) has recently approved the creation of a joint venture by French companies CMA CGM and TotalEnergies, dedicated to providing LNG bunkering services.

The EC concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given that the joint venture will have negligible activities in the European Economic Area and given the companies’ limited combined market positions resulting from the proposed transaction. 

“The notified transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure,” it said.

Manifold Times previously reported TotalEnergies and CMA CGM entering into an agreement to develop a 50/50 logistics joint venture dedicated to the implementation and operation of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunker supply solution at the port of Rotterdam, in the Netherlands.

As part of this new logistics joint venture, a new 20,000 cubic-meter LNG bunker vessel will be positioned in Rotterdam by the end of 2028 and jointly operated. 

The CMA CGM-TotalEnergies JV will offer a complete logistics service, from reload access at Gate terminal facilities to LNG bunker delivery to a wide range of vessels operating in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) region, including those of CMA CGM as well as other shipping operators.

The joint venture will capitalise on TotalEnergies’ established logistics infrastructure in the ARA region, where the 18,600 m³ LNG bunker vessel Gas Agility has been in operation since 2020.

Related: TotalEnergies and CMA CGM to launch LNG bunkering logistics joint venture in ARA

Photo credit: CMG CGM
Published: 26 August, 2026

India’s natural gas company GAIL on Sunday (23 August) said it has signed a Tripartite Cooperation Agreement with Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) and classification society DNV to explore the establishment of a LNG bunkering facility at Kandla Port.

The partnership brings together GAIL’s LNG expertise, DPA’s strategic port infrastructure and DNV’s global technical expertise in maritime safety and LNG bunkering.

“The initiative will explore the development of LNG bunkering infrastructure, supply chain, safety framework and operational ecosystem at Kandla, supporting the adoption of cleaner marine fuels and India’s vision for greener and more sustainable shipping,” the company said in a social media post.

The agreement was signed by Shri Sushil Kumar, Chairman of Deendayal Port Authority; Shri Anant Khobragade, ZCGM, Gujarat Zonal Office; and Ajay Kumar Singh, Business Lead, Marine Advisory, DNV India.

Photo credit: GAIL
Published: 25 August, 2026