Total Marine Fuels Global Solutions (TMFGS) and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) have signed a long-term charter contract for a large LNG bunker vessel of 18,600 m³, to be delivered in 2020. The vessel will operate in Northern Europe and will be the first ever capable of supplying large quantities of LNG in one single bunkering operation.
With this vessel, TMFGS intends to serve the emerging marine LNG market for the container ships segment, including those sailing on the Europe-Asia trade. The vessel will be used in particular to supply CMA CGM’s new build LNG mega container ships, following the 10 year contract of 300 kt per annum signed with TMFGS in December 2017.
This bunker vessel will be built by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding in China and fitted with the Mark III membrane containment system provided by the French company GTT. Highly manoeuvrable by design, with a length of about 135 meters, she will be able to operate safely in the considered harbours and terminals. She will meet the highest environmental standards through the use of LNG as fuel and a complete reliquefaction of the boil-off gas.