K-Line inks LNG bunkering vessel management deal with FueLNG

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K-Line) and FueLNG have concluded a ship management agreement for the 7,500-cbm LNG-bunkering vessel (LBV) that FueLNG will own, operate and carry out all commercial operations.

FueLNG, a joint venture between Keppel Offshore & Marine and Shell Eastern Petroleum has so far conducted more than 160 truck-to-ship LNG bunkering operations.

The LBV is expected to commence LNG-bunkering service in Singapore, one of world’s largest bunkering ports, in the second quarter of 2020 after delivery from Keppel Offshore & Marine’s shipyard where it is being built.

This will be the first LNG bunker vessel providing ship-to-ship bunkering in Singapore, K-Line said in its statement.

In order for shipping companies to achieve increasingly stringent global regulations on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships, LNG as a marine fuel is considered one of the primary alternative fuels to replace conventional heavy fuel oil for its characteristics to emit less GHG and other air pollutants.