Europe’s First Inland-Waterway LNG Bunker Vessel Begins Operations in Rotterdam

LNG London. Photo: Shell LNG Marketing & Trading

Europe’s first inland-waterway LNG bunker vessel has performed its first bunkering operations in Rotterdam with the LNG-powered Containerships Polar and Containerships Nord.

has performed her first bunkering operations, with the Containerships Polar and Containerships Nord vessels, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

The LNG London, which is owned by LNG Shipping, is on long-term charter to Shell and will be used for LNG bunkering in the ports of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Antwerp. The vessel measures 110 meters long and 15 meters wide, with a cargo capacity of 3,000 cubic meters of LNG.

LNG fuel will be loaded onto the LNG London at the Gate terminal in Rotterdam using an innovative fuel transfer system that enables delivery of LNG to seagoing vessels, inland barges and terminals onshore. The smaller air draft of the vessel will also allow it to sail via inland waterways to Antwerp and Amsterdam, if required.

With the implementation of the International Maritime Organization’s 0.5% sulphur cap in 2020, there is an increasing interest in LNG as a viable 2020-compliant marine fuel not only for seagoing vessels, but for inland vessels as well.

“The entry into service of LNG London shows our ability and commitment to providing safe and reliable supplies that help meet the growing need for cleaner-burning fuel,” Tahir Faruqui, General Manager, Shell Global Downstream LNG, said. “We are pleased to have three LNG bunker vessels in our fleet and look forward to others joining them in the future.”

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