Bomin Linde LNG Marks Start of Long-Term Supply Agreement with FSG

Searoad Mersey II was bunkered with LNG for the first time at the end of September.

Bomin Linde LNG GmbH & Co. KG (Bomin Linde LNG) today announced that it marked the beginning of its long-term cooperation with Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft mbH & Co. KG (FSG) with the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering of the LNG-powered Ro-Ro ferry Searoad Mersey II at the end of September - a vessel slated to become the first LNG-powered ferry in Australia.

"The new tanker-to-tanker process went smoothly and is thus an additional option for using LNG for marine propulsion," said Günter Eiermann, Technical Director at Bomin Linde LNG.

"Following the successful start, I am especially looking forward to further cooperation with Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft."

Following the first bunkering of Searoad Mersey II, which is noted to have taken place at Odense, Denmark, the vessel is said to have sailed back to Flensburg as part of its trial.

Bomin Linde LNG was responsible for the planning, preparation, and implementation of the bunkering operation, including technical consulting, coordination of the on-site parties, and obtaining the required permits from the port.

"Bomin Linde LNG gives us flexible full service in supplying LNG for initial fuelling. With the fuelling of the Searoad Mersey II our long-term cooperation has begun very successfully," said Holger Jacobs, project engineer at FSG, adding: "we are already in negotiations for additional newbuildings."

The vessel's tank system features four dual fuel engines, including two main engines, two gensets, which Bomin Linde LNG calls "one of a kind" for its utilisation of trailers connected to its drive system rather than its own tanks.

"For this new fuelling system, Bomin Linde LNG has created bunker guidelines and safety procedures tailored to international regulations," noted Bomin Linde LNG.

The vessel is being built for SeaRoad, and is slated to operate between Tasmania and Melbourne upon delivery.

Recently, Bomin Linde LNG announced that it has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Furetank Rederi AB (Furetank) detailing a long-term cooperation for the supply of LNG in the Baltic Sea region.