EMEA News
UASC Denies Rumours of Middle East LNG Bunkering Facility
The United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) has refuted speculations that it had plans to build liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering facilities in the Middle East, though the company is open to cooperating with LNG-related companies and entities, Seatrade Global reports.
The rumours came to light early this year after a few remarks made during a seminar in Singapore by a representative of DNV GL.
However, UASC President and CEO Jørn Hinge confirmed this week that the company was not currently "directly making arrangements for LNG bunkering facilities in the Middle East or elsewhere."
"Rather, UASC is open to working closely with concerned parties including LNG producers/suppliers, Port Authorities, regulatory bodies, other government authorities, etc. in order to ensure the exchange of information to support the availability of LNG bunkering facilities at such a time that UASC and other customers would require," he said.
The company is expecting the first deliveries of a fleet of LNG-ready containerships next month from Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), which will initially run on heavy fuel oil (HFO) but are capable of switching to LNG when needed.
The decision to switch however, will depend entirely on existing infrastructure and price differentials between between HFO, LNG, distillates and low sulfur HFO.
"UASC is currently concentrating on ensuring the delivery of its newbuildings on time and with the highest level of quality that UASC has come to expect from HHI," said Hinge.
"Until the decision is taken to actually proceed with the conversion to dual fuel, the workload is somewhat unclear."
UASC's fleet of 17 LNG-capable box ships is the company's largest ever newbuild order.
