Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in China has surpassed 100 bonded LNG bunkering operations for international vessels, according to China-based media reports on Monday (28 September).
The milestone comes following the completion of a ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operation for the dual-fuel container ship MSC JOSEFINA at the Chuanshan port area recently.
The milestone comes around three years after the port completed its first bonded LNG bunkering operation in June 2023.
The port has since expanded its LNG bunkering service from a pilot operation to regular and larger-scale activity, amid growing demand for LNG as a marine fuel as the shipping industry pursues lower-carbon fuel options.
Ningbo Customs has introduced measures aimed at facilitating bonded LNG bunkering, including a “bunker first, declare later” process. Under the arrangement, LNG bunkering can begin once a vessel berths, with customs declaration procedures completed after the operation.
The customs authority has also standardised a “single loading, continuous bunkering” arrangement, allowing a bunkering vessel to supply multiple international vessels after a single LNG loading.
“Now, container loading and unloading and bunkering can be carried out simultaneously when ships berth, which greatly shortens the operation process and significantly improves operational efficiency,” said Xiao Yi from the Operations Department of Ningbo Beilun Third Container Terminal Co Ltd.
Ningbo Customs has also worked with Hangzhou Customs to establish a cross-customs-district regulatory process for the transfer of bonded LNG.
The arrangement enabled Zhejiang province’s first cross-customs-district bonded LNG bunkering operation and supports an integrated “Zhoushan storage, Ningbo bunkering” model.
Under the arrangement, companies can allocate bonded LNG resources between Ningbo and Zhoushan according to demand, providing greater flexibility in fuel supply and vessel scheduling.
Ningbo Customs has also introduced digital monitoring measures. These include the use of vessel AIS tracking to monitor operations and support the simultaneous handling of cargo, on-site supervision and bunkering.
The measures are intended to improve the efficiency and safety of LNG bunkering operations at the port as Ningbo-Zhoushan expands its green marine fuel services.
Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 29 September, 2026
