MOL, Total Pen Deal for 2nd LNG Bunker Vessel

Total Marine Fuels Global Solutions (TMFGS) and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) have signed a long-term charter contract for a second large LNG bunker vessel, to be delivered in 2021.

The bunker vessel will be built Chinese shipbuilder Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding and will have a capacity of 18,600 m³.

Once delivered in 2021, it will be positioned in the Marseille-Fos area in France.

The LNG-fuelled ship will be about 135 meters long and fitted with the Mark III membrane containment system provided by French company GTT.

This vessel has been specifically designed to supply LNG bunker in the Mediterranean area to a wide range of vessels, including containerships, tankers, ferries and large cruise ships.

The newbuild vessel will be operated under the French flag by MOL jointly with GAZOCEAN.

This agreement follows the launching of Total’s first LNG bunker vessel last month in Shanghai, which will supply LNG bunker to CMA CGM 23,000 TEU containerships in Northern Europe once delivered in 2020.

“This is the second LNG bunker vessel for Total, and we are extremely honoured that the company has selected us as a partner,” Kenta Matsuzaka, MOL Managing Executive Officer, said.

“In recent years, the role of LNG has changed enormously. LNG of course, serves as a clean energy source, and we expect to see wider use for it as a vessel fuel, so we anticipate significant growth in the future. At MOL, we take a proactive stance in the LNG fuel business and will contribute to achieving global UN’s Sustainable Development Goals through this project.”

The order coincides with the agreement signed by LNG player Total with CMA CGM for the supply of about 270,000 tons per year of LNG over ten years.

As reported by World Maritime News, the contract will result in the launch of a dedicated supply chain in the port of Marseille-Fos. Total will position an LNG bunkering vessel at the port of Marseille-Fos and provide a complementary bunkering solution in Singapore.