TotalEnergies taps Hudong-Zhonghua for new 18,600 cbm LNG bunkering vessel

France’s energy giant TotalEnergies has ordered a new LNG bunkering vessel at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).

The newbuild will be 135.9 meters long and 24.5 meters wide with an 18,600 cubic meter (cbm) capacity, developed and designed by Hudong-Zhonghua.

The vessel will feature a full-rotation electric propulsion system, dual-fuel engines, and natural gas incineration devices that support high-inert gas treatment and other environmental protection equipment, the shipbuilder said.

The contract comes with an option for one additional 18,600 cbm LNG bunkering vessel.

TotalEnergies charters two LNG carriers, namely Gas Vitality and Gas Agility, built by Hudong-Zhonghua.

Gas Vitality, also known as the first LNG bunker vessel to be based in France, was built in 2021 and started operations at the beginning of 2022. It is based in the Port of Marseille-Fos, Southern France, and serves the Mediterranean region. At the beginning of 2024, Gas Vitality marked its 100th bunkering operation. 

The second vessel, Gas Agility, was delivered in April 2020 and is situated in the Dutch port of Rotterdam.

So far, the two LNG bunkering vessels have completed more than 200 bunkering operations.