Shell-chartered 8,000 cbm LNG bunker vessel christened in Rotterdam

LNG Shipping, a joint venture (JV) between Victrol and Sogestran, has christened an 8,000 cubic meter (cbm) inland LNG bunker vessel chartered by Shell Western LNG.

Described as Europe’s largest inland LNG bunker vessel, Energy Stockholm was christened by its godmother Saheera Ahmad, Head of Business Development – Marine LNG for Shell, on November 12 in Rotterdam.

The vessel was built by RMK Marine’s shipyard in Tuzla, Turkey, and delivered in September this year.

Shell Western LNG will take over the vessel under a long-term charter contract for bunkering operations in the ports of Zeebrugge, Antwerp, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam (ZARA). Victrol, a company specializing in the distribution and bunkering of mineral oils and gas in all North West European Ports, will be responsible for its operations.

With its capability to bunker a wide variety of vessels and an LNG cargo system that allows it to bunker membrane-type tanks, the hybrid-electric dual-fuel Energy Stockholm is expected to increase Shell’s bunkering capacity in the ZARA region.

The vessel is powered by pure gas and diesel generator compatible with bio-diesel and is said to be the first for inland waterways to use batteries and shore power connections.

A 500 kWh battery pack allows it to navigate under battery power for 30 minutes at a time, Sogestran explained.

Energy Stockholm is LNG Shipping’s second inland bunker vessel chartered to Shell. The first, LNG London, with a capacity of 3,000 cubic meters, was launched in July 2019.

David Patron, Commercial Director for Oil/Chemicals/Gas at Sogestran, said: “The Energy Stockholm builds on the operational expertise gained by the LNG London over the past four years. It is at the forefront of new technologies to optimise its energy consumption and reduce its emissions.”

Peter Maes, Chief Technical Officer at Victrol, a added: “Following the positive experience with building and operating the LNG London, I was pleased to lead this new project. Constructing the largest inland LNG barge ever built in Europe was both challenging and exciting. I extend my gratitude to everyone who contributed to this ambitious building process, and I wish the crew great success in operating the barge.”