Spanish natural gas and electrical energy utilities firm Gas Natural Fenosa (GNF) Tuesday carried out its first bunkering operation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) at the Port of Cartagena to the Furetank owned and operated chemical tanker Fure Vinga.
The event also marks the first LNG bunkering operation of the Fure Vinga in Europe; the bunkering operation was conducted using six LNG trucks to deliver a total 120 metric tonnes (mt) of LNG fuel to the vessel.
“We are pleased that the first LNG bunkering operation for the Fure Vinga in Europe was completed without problems, thanks to the cooperation of all the parties involved, including the ship's crew and port authorities, as well as the cooperation between GNF and Nauticor,” said Lars Höglund, CEO of Furetank.
“With this type of cooperation it is evident that the use of LNG as a maritime fuel is an economic solution, real and available to shipping companies, guaranteeing supply in ports of different geographical areas,” confirmed Joaquin Mendiluce, director of GAS Iberian Wholesale Marketing Natural Fenosa.
“Our experience in LNG has made it possible for this bunkering operation to be a success, showing the customer that the availability of LNG as maritime energy is improving every day,” said Mahinde Abeynaike, CEO of Nauticor.
The Swedish vessel Fure Vinga is the first of a series of six newly constructed chemical tankers owned and operated by Furetank. It is the second ship powered by LNG in the company's fleet, after the chemical tanker Fure West, which uses LNG as fuel since 2015.
Nauticor is already supplying the Fure West with LNG bunker fuel for Furetank in north-western Europe.
GNF in January entered into a ten-year exclusive LNG marine fuel supply agreement with Spanish ferry company Baleària Eurolínias Marítimas.
Related: Gas Natural Fenosa reiterates commitment to LNG marine fuel
Related: Spanish firms sign landmark LNG bunkering agreement
Related: Repsol conducts ‘largest’ LNG bunker supply op in Spain
Photo credit: Gas Natural Fenosa
Published: 23 May, 2018
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