Shell Agrees To Supply LNG For Van Der Kamp Dredger

2017-02-09

On January 30, 2017, Shell Western LNG B.V. (Shell) signed an agreement with dredging company Van der Kamp to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) as marine fuel to a new LNG-powered vessel.

The new vessel, named Ecodelta, is currently being built at the Dutch yard Barkmeijer. It is expected to start operations in 2018 – keeping Rotterdam’s port basins at the right depth until 2023. This will be one of the first LNG-powered dredgers in operation around the globe.

Distinguishing it from a conventional dredger, the Ecodelta is equipped with two ‘sweeparms’ to remove oil from the water surface, allowing it to quickly react to emergency response situations.

Lauran Wetemans, Shell’s General Manager Downstream LNG, said: “This agreement shows the continued momentum of LNG as a fuel option. LNG is now an effective alternative to traditional fuels for ships around the world, and we are ready to supply customers in northwest Europe. Working together in close collaboration with companies like Van der Kamp will help enable the move to a cleaner, more efficient shipping sector in the future.”

Picture courtesy of Van der Kamp

Demand for LNG as a fuel in the shipping industry is increasing due to emissions reduction requirements. The recent International Maritime Organization (IMO) decision for a global 0.5% sulphur cap in 2020 will help expedite this development.

Since October 2015, Shell has had access to import and storage capacity at the Gas Access to Europe (Gate) LNG terminal in the Netherlands, allowing the company to supply LNG to marine and road transport customers in northwest Europe.

The Port of Rotterdam is the largest port in Europe and a key location for bunkering operations, giving the Gate terminal an advantaged position to serve customers in the marine and road sector.

Shell’s chartered LNG vessel, the Coral Methane, was loaded for the first time with LNG on the 19th of September to distribute LNG to Shell’s customer AGA AS, a leading gas company in Northern Europe. The new terminal will provide security of supply of LNG for marine and road transport customers in northwest Europe.

To serve marine customers in the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Shell has contracted a specialised LNG bunker vessel* to deliver to LNG-fuelled vessels in northwest Europe. The vessel is also sea-going and, therefore, able to bunker customers at other locations. *The project ‘ReaLNG’ is co-financed by the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility

The proposed initiative builds on Gasnor, Shell’s Norwegian company which provides LNG fuel for ships and industrial customers in Norway and northwest Europe.

Shell will supply LNG for the world’s first LNG-powered cruise ships being built by Carnival. Two of the world’s largest passenger cruise ships, the vessels will begin sailing in northwest Europe and the Mediterranean in 2019.

Shell has signed a time-charter agreement with Plouvier Transport NV and Intertrans Tankschiffahrt AG for 15 new inland dual-fuel barges, which will predominantly run on LNG. A staggered delivery of the barges is expected to take place between early 2017 and mid- 2018.

Shell also has projects to develop LNG as a fuel in North America and a growing Shell network of LNG truck refuelling stations in the Netherlands.

Source: Shell

Source from : International Shipping News

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