Bomin Linde LNG Signs LOI with Furetank for LNG Supply

Bomin Linde LNG will supply the Furetank vessels with ship-to-ship LNG bunkering.

Bomin Linde LNG GmbH & Co. KG (Bomin Linde LNG) Tuesday announced that it has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Furetank Rederi AB (Furetank) detailing a long-term cooperation for the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the Baltic Sea region.

Under the LOI, Bomin Linde LNG says it will supply the Furetank vessels with ship-to-ship bunkering services via a new LNG bunker supply vessel, both in ports and potentially offshore using DP2 equipment.

"We are looking forward to develop a safe and flexible LNG supply chain in cooperation with a frontrunner like Furetank Rederi," said Sonja Nesshoever, Director LNG Portfolio of Bomin Linde LNG.

"As an important step forward to reduce costs for our clients and to optimise shipping routes we will also jointly explore the possibility of introducing LNG in Lightering Areas of the Baltic Sea."

Furetank, which is noted to have undertaken the process of retrofitting the tanker Fure West for LNG propulsion in 2015, is said to have ordered four LNG-fuelled newbuildings along with its partners in the Gothenburg-based Gothia Tanker Alliance,

The vessels, which are currently under construction, are said to be slated for commissioning in late 2018 and early 2019.

"I am glad to have found a strong and reliable partner with Bomin Linde LNG being able to offer access to a unique LNG supply network in the Baltic Sea," said Lars Höglund, Managing Director of Furetank, of the deal with Bomin Linde LNG.

Earlier this month, the Bomin Group (Bomin) announced it had sold its 50 percent stake in Bomin Linde LNG to its JV partner Linde AG (Linde), which will now own all shares and rename the company by March 2017.