MOL charters out Singapore LNG bunkering tanker to Pavilion Gas
- Published
by Admin
Multi-modal transport group Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) on Monday (25 February) entered into a long-term charter contract with Pavilion Gas Pte Ltd. (PGPL) to operate Asia’s largest (12,000 m3-class) liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessel in Singapore.
The company has proceeded on the project with PGPL to build a cooperative structure in the private sector, it notes.
They have teamed with Singapore shipyard Sembcorp Marine Specialised Shipbuilding Pte. Ltd. for construction of the vessels, and formed a partnership with Singapore bunker barge company Sinanju Tankers Pte. Ltd. to manage the vessel.
The newbuilding will be the second LNG bunkering vessel in Singapore and is slated to start services after its delivery to PGPL in early 2021.
Demand for LNG as a marine fuel is expected to grow on a global scale due to IMO 2020.
“Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) is focusing considerable effort on development of an LNG fuel supply infrastructure and implementing policies aimed at creating the world’s largest LNG fuel supply port,” states MOL.
“The Japanese government also concluded a “Memorandum of understanding in relation to the cooperation on the development of LNG as a marine fuel” with seven other countries, including Singapore.
“Since then the Japanese government has worked closely with Singapore to promote the use of LNG fuel and develop a supply framework.”
In April 2017, MOL established its Bunker Business Division to enter the bunker business with the aim of speeding up progress on business related to alternative bunker fuels such as LNG.
Later in February 2018, it signed a long-term charter contract for the world’s largest (18,600m3-class) LNG bunker vessel with Total Marine Fuels Global Solutions which will offer services in northern Europe.
The Japanese firm is scheduled to launch the LNG-fuelled tugboat Ishin in Osaka Bay in April. MOL continually promotes development of infrastructure to supply LNG fuel and drives LNG fueled vessels.
Details of the LNG bunker tanker newbuilding are as follows:
| Length | About 112 m |
| Breadth | About 22 m |
| LNG tank | Membrane type (GTT Mark III) |
| Shipyard | Sembcorp Marine Specialised Shipbuilding |
| Tank capacity | 12,000? |
| Main engine | 2 electric propulsion Azimuth Thrusters |
| Speed | 11.5 knots |
| Registry | Singapore |
| Other | Use of reliquefied boil-off gas generated in fuel tanks |
Related: Total to charter MOL’s China-built LNG bunkering tanker
Related: Mitsui O.S.K. Lines names its first LNG-fuelled tugboat
Photo credit: Mitsui O.S.K. Lines
Published: 25 February, 2019
