LNG Bunkering

LNG as marine fuel economically more viable in ECAs, says Sovcomflot

Sovcomflot President and CEO Igor Tonkovidov says Russia is taking steps to promote LNG as marine fuel.

Published

7 years ago

November 1, 2019

Admin

Crude oil, petroleum products, and liquefied gas maritime transportation firm Sovcomflot believes liquefied natural gas (LNG) to be the bunker fuel of choice when operating in emission control areas (ECAs).

“We are confident that using LNG fuel for vessels trading in Emission Control Zones such as the North and Baltic Seas is economically more viable than using standard MDO,” said Igor Tonkovidov, President and CEO of Sovcomflot, at an October conference held in Moscow.

“Our experience of operating large-capacity LNG-fuelled tankers for more than a year shows that that using LNG as a primary fuel achieves a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions compared with similar vessels powered by traditional heavy fuel.

“Russia’s access to vast deposits of gas gives our country a natural competitive advantage.”

Tonkovidov further noted that the Russian Ministry of Transport and the Federal Agency for Maritime and River Transport have already taken a number of consecutive steps to promote the use of LNG as a cleaner-burning fuel.

In particular, Baltic ports now provide discounts on port dues for LNG-fuelled vessels.

Currently, Gazprom Neft Marine Bunker, a subsidiary of Gazprom Neft, has the first Russian LNG bunkering vessel under construction, which will operate on the Baltic.

In June 2019, Sovcomflot and Gazprom Neft Marine Bunker signed an agreement to cooperate on implementing projects for bunkering ships with LNG fuel.

Sovcomflot currently has six LNG-fuelled crude oil tankers in operation.

“During the summer navigation period this year, several Sovcomflot vessels have successfully completed commercial voyages across the Northern Sea Route while using only LNG fuel for the entire length of it,” said Tonkovidov.

“During these voyages, we have tested the operation of tanker fuel systems and vessel machinery in low temperatures of the Arctic, and used a new deep-water route through the northern part of the East Siberian Sea.

“With these voyages, Sovcomflot has once again demonstrated its commitment to using cleaner-burning fuel for operations in the Arctic.”

Photo credit: Sovcomflot
Published: 1 November, 2019

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

9 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