EMEA News
Companies Partner to "Develop the LNG Bunkering Market Worldwide"
GDF SUEZ, Mitsubishi, and Nippon Yusen Kaisha Line (NYK) say they plan to "develop the LNG bunkering market worldwide," starting with a liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessel that will supply the fuel to United European Car Carriers (UECC) in the Northern Europe Emissions Control Area (ECA).
The first contracts, based on a framework agreement between the companies, involve the order of the bunkering vessel by NYK and a contract for the supply of the fuel between GDF SUEZ and UECC.
"GDF SUEZ regards LNG as the future of bunkering," said Jean-Marie Dauger, the company's executive vice-president in charge of the Global Gas & LNG business line.
"These new agreements emphasize the Group's Retail LNG strategy and demonstrates our commitment to the development of LNG bunkering business on a global scale, alongside with harbor infrastructures and ship operators."
The fuel will be delivered to the UECC's new dual-fuel car carrier ships at the port of Zeebrugge, Belgium by ship-to-ship transfer starting in late 2016.
The bunkering vessel, to be built at Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction in Korea, will be operated by NYK, supplying various customers in addition to UECC.
UECC ordered two dual-fuel pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs) in March, with delivery scheduled for the second half of 2016.
