Total makes first ship-to-containership LNG bunkering operation in France

Total has made it first ship-to-containership LNG bunkering operation in France. The world’s largest LNG bunker vessel in operation, Total’s Gas Agility¸ refuelled the world’s largest containership powered by LNG, the CMA CGM Jacques Saade, with around 16,400 cm of LNG at the Port of Dunkirk on 30 April 2021.

The inaugural operation also marked Dunkerque LNG terminal’s first loading of a small-scale LNG vessel and the Terminal des Flandres’ first LNG bunkering operation with simultaneous cargo operations.

The loading underscores the close cooperation across all partners of the ‘Green Loop’ project consortium, which comprises Total, the Dunkerque LNG terminal, Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) and CMA CGM. Co-financed by the European Union under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) – Transport Sector, the overall project’s aim is to promote the decarbonisation of maritime transport by deploying a scale-up LNG bunkering solution in North Europe.

By 2022, the Gas Agility’s sistership, another 18,600 cm newbuild LNG bunker vessel, will join Total’s LNG bunker fleet to serve the Mediterranean region. Simultaneously, Total will share the use of a third bunker vessel in Singapore.

Interest in LNG as a marine fuel has been growing as the global shipping industry looks to adapt to stricter emissions standards. It is claimed to cut sulphur emissions by 99%, fine particle emissions by 99%, nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 85%, and greenhouse gas emissions (well-to-wake) up to 23%.

For more on small-scale LNG and LNG as a bunkering fuel, see Petroleum Review’s forthcoming July 2021 issue.

Photo: Total