Singapore’s first LNG-powered bunker tanker launched
The 7,990 DWT vessel christened “Marine Vicky” was launched recently in Nantong, China. It is Singapore’s first bunker tanker to run on LNG and signifies the momentum in the industry to adopt LNG as a marine fuel, said its owner Sinanju, which partnered Mitsui & Co. (Asia Pacific), the Singapore subsidiary of Japan-based Mitsui & Co, to place the newbuilding order with Keppel O&M.
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Sinanju also appointed SeaTech Solutions International, a Singapore-based ship design and consultancy firm to design the dual-fuel bunker tanker. SeaTech has a large database of 77 bunker tanker designs built for Singapore operations, including Singapore’s first diesel-electric bunker tanker in 2012.
“Marine Vicky” is built to the requirements of classification society Bureau Veritas and measures 103-m long and 19-m wide. She is equipped with a 55 cubic metre LNG tank with a fuel gas supply system on deck to supply gas to the engine. The vessel is also fitted with pipelines and tanks that enable it to carry multiple grades of marine fuel cargo.
The LNG-powered bunker tanker will commence operations in Q1 2020 under a 2-year time-charter agreement with ExxonMobil Asia Pacific to deliver its new EMF.5 Engineered Marine Fuels. This will ensure ExxonMobil’s customers have high quality, compliant fuel options when bunkering in Singapore waters.
Ju Kai Meng, Managing Director of Sinanju said, “Sinanju is taking a bold move to pioneer the use of LNG as a clean, alternative fuel for bunker tankers in Singapore with the launch of “Marine Vicky”. It is an exciting beginning for our sector and I encourage more bunker tankers to be built with the view of using alternative fuels or other sustainable methods in a bid to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and its environmental impact.”
Taku Morimoto, Executive Vice President and COO of Mitsui AP said, “We are truly delighted with the launch of Singapore’s very first dual-fuel bunker tanker, which marks an important milestone in Singapore’s journey to become a world leader in supplying clean marine fuels. We thank our partners Sinanju and Keppel O&M, and everyone who contributed to the safe and successful construction of “Marine Vicky.”
For this project, Prabjot Singh Chopra, Vice President – Technology at SeaTech shared, “We are very honoured to be entrusted by our valued client Sinanju to be the designer and integrator for Singapore’s first dual fuel bunker vessel. Together with Sinanju and other stakeholders, we carried out safety studies simulating various scenarios to finally develop this design. We are excited to see the vessel in operation.”
Ju concluded, “We have accomplished a significant milestone today, but our sights are already set on the next one – to ensure that my crew is trained to handle LNG safely and in accordance to the strict procedures in place. We will be well prepared to further our ambition in carrying out LNG bunkering in 2021.”