Bomin Blue LNG Joint Venture to Serve Terminals in the Baltic and North Sea

Mahinde Abeynaike, managing director of Bomin Linde LNG

A new liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunker supply vessel project will be undertaken thanks a joint venture established between Hamburg-based Bomin Linde LNG GmbH & Co. KG and SC Klaipedos Nafta, Maritime Executive reports.

Under the $14-million Blue LNG venture, an LNG bunker vessel will be constructed and commence operations in 2017 to supply Bomin Linde vessels; create a flexible LNG transport service to Klaipedos Nafta reloading stations; and provide full LNG services such as transport the fuel to small-scale terminals in the Baltic and North Sea.

The vessel will be loaded with LNG from the Klaipėda LNG terminal.

Mahinde Abeynaike, managing director of Bomin Linde LNG, said when the Blue LNG venture was signed this week, "This partnership with Klaipedos Nafta marks a further step on the road of Klaipeda becoming our hub for efficient LNG supply to the Baltic Sea ports and other North Western European locations."

He added, "In the next step, we will order the LNG Bunker Supply Vessel which will combine state-of-the-art technology, highest safety standards and superior performance."

Under the venture, which is expected to come into effect after a December 14 Klaipedos Nafta general meeting of shareholders, Bomin Linde will have an 80 percent share of the company, and SGD logistika, a fully-owned subsidiary of Klaipedos Nafta, will hold the remaining 20 percent.

Earlier this year Bomin Linde said it noticed an increasing market acceptance of LNG as an alternative to 380 cSt bunker fuel, and predicted this would be boosted by the International Maritime Organization's intention to cap global fuel sulfur content.