SLNG Terminal Performs First mini-Reload

Singapore LNG Corporation (SLNG) successfully performed its first small scale LNG reload at its terminal on Jurong Island, Singapore, the company said in a disclosure on June 20. The operation was carried out from June 18-20 for the newbuild, 6,500 m³ Cardissa, a 394-foot (120-metre) LNG bunker vessel owned by Shell.

The reload was performed at the SLNG Terminal’s secondary jetty, which was originally designed to accommodate LNG vessels from 60,000 to 265,000 m³. Detailed compatibility studies were carried out in advance to ensure that the vessel could safely call at the jetty.

The compatibility studies involved, among other things, checking whether the vessel’s equipment would be able to connect with the equipment at the secondary jetty, and the marine conditions needed to ensure that the operations could be conducted smoothly. Previously, the smallest LNG carrier to call at the SLNG Terminal for unloading or reloading was about 65,000 m³.

“The successful completion of our first small scale LNG reload operation is significant as it demonstrates the SLNG Terminal’s ability to play the role of LNG supply hub for the region. The terminal is able to break LNG cargoes into smaller parcels and facilitate deliveries of small volumes of LNG to other terminals in the region, or as bunker fuel to ships in our port,” said SLNG CEO John Ng.

He added that SLNG is “already looking ahead to further enhance our capabilities in this area, by exploring possible modifications to our secondary jetty to accommodate LNG vessels as small as 2,000 m³. This is expected to come on-stream in 2019.”

Tim Daiss