Total and MOL name world’s largest LNG bunkering vessel in Rotterdam ceremony

Written by Nick Blenkey
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Total says the Gas Agility is an industry premiere made possible by a strong collaboration between the shipyard, the owner, the charterer and many partners, including Bureau Veritas and GTT. [Photo credit: Chris Schotanus]

The world’s largest LNG bunker vessel has been officially named at a ceremony held today in Rotterdam. The 18,600-cubic-meter GTT Mark III Flex membrane vessel has been named Gas Agility and is the first LNG bunker vessel owned by Emerald Green Maritime Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL). It is chartered by Total’s affiliate Total Marine Fuels Global Solutions (TMFGS).

TMFGS and MOL signed the time charter party for the ship in February 2018 and construction of the vessel started in November 2018 at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding in China.

Delivered in April 2020, the Gas Agility meets the highest technical and environmental standards, itself using LNG herself as propulsion fuel, and integrating a complete re-liquefaction of the boil-off gas.

“We are delighted to have officially named Gas Agility as she embarks on a new chapter in delivering cleaner marine fuels. Her arrival in Rotterdam marks the culmination of three years of dedicated work with MOL and Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding in Shanghai, to plan, build and create a major development in global marine LNG fuel supply,” said Jérôme Leprince-Ringuet, managing director of Total Marine Fuels Global Solutions. “Gas Agility is a clear demonstration of our ongoing drive to develop key logistical LNG infrastructures in the main bunkering hubs around the world, helping the shipping industry make the move to a more sustainable fuel solution.”

Total says the Gas Agility is an industry premiere made possible by a strong collaboration between the shipyard, the owner, the charterer and many partners, including Bureau Veritas and GTT.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the people who have been involved in the project,” said Takeshi Hashimoto, executive vice president of MOL. “I am very confident that our endeavour will be the great milestone and the turning point in this rapidly changing world. The transition from heavy fuel oil to LNG is competitive, environmentally efficient and an immediately available solution for maritime transportation. By providing the capacity to deliver LNG as a marine fuel, this partnership will be the leader in transition to a more fuel-efficient industry.

In December 2019, TMFGS and MOL signed a long-term charter contract for a second large LNG bunker vessel, to be delivered in 2021. It will be positioned in the Marseille-Fos area in France to supply LNG as a marine fuel in the Mediterranean area.

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