Shell Delivers Its First Ship-to-Ship Bunkering with LNG Bunker Vessel

Shell recently delivered its first ship-to-ship bunkering of cleaner burning LNG fuel from its specialized LNG bunker vessel, Cardissa. This operation marked a number of other firsts, as it fueled the Sovcomflot vessel Gagarin Prospect, the world’s first LNG-powered Aframax tanker. It was also the first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering to take place in the Port of Rotterdam.

The fueling of the Gagarin Prospect with LNG is the first operation under the LNG fuel supply agreement between Shell and Sovcomflot signed in 2017.

“The Port of Rotterdam Authority highly values and actively supports a more sustainable transport sector,” said Allard Castelein, CEO Port of Rotterdam. “Compared to other fuels, LNG offers significant benefits to local air quality and contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gasses. We welcome the Gagarin Prospect and her sister vessels to our port and look forward to many more secure and efficient LNG bunker operations.”

Shell continues to build the marine LNG supply chain across the world’s main shipping lanes. Sovcomflot and other industry leading ship owners and operators are increasingly choosing LNG fuel over traditional marine fuels to respond to sulphur and nitrogen oxide emissions regulations, including the IMO’s recent decision to implement a global 0.5 percent sulfur cap in 2020.