First Aframax bunkered with LNG in US waters
The Sovcomflot (SCF)-owned Gagarin Prospect Aframax became the first large-capacity vessel of its kind to be refuelled with LNG in US waters, the Russian shipowner announced March 19.
SCF said the Aframax, chartered to Shell, received 1,075 m3 of LNG via ship-to-ship transfer from the Q-LNG 4000 bunkering barge, also chartered by Shell, outside the Port of Canaveral, Florida. The Liberian-flagged Aframax was on its way to Europe from a port in Texas, deviating some 278 km from its route for the bunkering operation.
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“LNG can now be supplied ship-to-ship on the principal transatlantic tanker trade routes between Europe and the US Gulf, and the US Gulf and East Coast Canada,” SCF stated.
Shipowners have resorted to using LNG to comply with the International Maritime Organisation's 2020 cap on sulphur content in marine fuels and other environmental legislation. SCF noted that CO2 emissions are cut by 24%, NOx emissions decline by 95% and SOx emissions are eliminated entirely when using LNG, compared with conventional marine fuels.
SCF COO Sergey Popravko said the LNG bunkering operation confirmed its leadership position in low-carbon shipping.
“We are investing significant efforts in the transition of our fleet towards energy efficiency and the use of cleaner fuels,” he said.
SCF agreed in 2015 to work with Shell to introduce LNG as a fuel source for large-capacity tankers. The Russian company operates a fleet of six LNG-fuelled Aframax tankers and has five more LNG-powered vessels on order. The company estimates it will have 42 LNG-powered vessels in its fleet by 2025.
(banner image courtesy of SCF)