Sovcomflot Group and Gazprom Neft Marine Bunker has signed a cooperation agreement regarding the implementation of projects for bunkering ships with liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel.
The signing ceremony took place at the 2019 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
The agreement was signed by Igor Tonkovidov, Executive Vice President and CTO/COO of Sovcomflot, and Andrey Vasiliev, CEO of Gazprom Neft Marine Bunker.
The agreement reinforces the mutual interest of both parties regarding their cooperation in the bunkering of Sovcomflot's tankers with LNG fuel. Such activities also correspond with the state programme for expanding the use of LNG fuel within the transportation sector.
“We firmly believe that LNG fuel is the optimal solution, both environmentally and economically, for large-tonnage cargo shipping, primarily in high-traffic areas with existing regulatory restrictions on emissions, such as the Baltic and the North Seas, as well as in the Arctic Sea basin,” commented Tonkovidov.
“For a number of years, Sovcomflot has been systematically working on switching its tanker fleet to LNG fuel, and we welcome the opportunity to expand cooperation with Gazprom Neft in this area, combining our efforts to introduce advanced environmental standards into Russian shipping.”
“The adoption of LNG bunker fuel is one of the key trends in anticipation of the entry into force of the new MARPOL environmental regulations,” added Vasiliev.
“Our agreement is intended to promote synergies between us with the adoption of LNG fuel, with Sovcomflot being a pioneer in switching vessels to the use of LNG fuel in Russia, and Gazprom Neft Marine Bunker being the first Russian company to implement an LNG bunkering project with the planned commissioning of the country’s first LNG bunkering vessel in 2021.”
In 2018, Sovcomflot adopted LNG as a primary fuel for its Aframax crude oil tankers (114,000-dwt).
Currently, Sovcomflot has six such tankers in service, which primarily operate across the Baltic and North Seas. In addition, Sovcomflot has further five LNG-fuelled tankers under construction at the Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex in Primorsky region, Russia.
Gazpromneft Marine Bunker and FSUE Rosmorport in early June entered into an agreement to cooperate in organising liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering operations at the Ust-Luga-Baltiysk ferry route.
The recent 2019 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum saw LNG marine fuel related developments coming from Russian firms:
Related: Russia: LNG as marine fuel ‘opens up very good prospects for us’
Related: Russia: Gazpromneft and Rosmorport to cooperate in LNG bunkering
Related: VEB.RF Group provides financing for Sovcomflot LNG-fuelled MR tankers
Photo credit: Sovcomflot
Published: 11 June, 2019
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