FueLNG, together with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), on Friday completed Singapore’s first bunkering of an LNG-fuelled oil tanker.
Shell’s Aframax tanker Pacific Emerald is the first oil tanker to be LNG-bunkered in the city state, with the operation performed by FueLNG Bellina, Singapore’s first liquefied natural gas vessel.
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LNG is an immediately available fuel solution that can reduce the environmental impact of maritime transport. The use of LNG as a marine fuel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 23% on a well-to-wake basis, compared to current oil-based marine fuels, according to the second Lifecycle GHG Emission Study on the use of LNG as a Marine Fuel from Sephera, formerly thinkstep.
Significantly less pollutants
Vessels that use LNG also emit significantly less of the three main pollutants: 99% less sulphur dioxide, 91% less particulate matter and 92% less nitrogen oxide, compared to oil-based marine fuels.
“Emissions are cumulative, and the shipping sector simply cannot afford inaction. LNG is the lowest emission fuel available at scale in the shipping sector today and has a key role in its decarbonisation journey,” said Tahir Faruqui, director of FueLNG and head of Shell Downstream LNG.
“Shell is actively investing in building a global LNG bunkering network to support the sector with capabilities to tackle emissions with urgency. We are also investing in LNG for our own long-term charter fleet to deliver our products like the oil tanker fuelled today.”
FueLNG, a joint venture between Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M) and Shell Eastern Petroleum, said it is committed to promoting the adoption of LNG as a marine fuel and has been working closely with partners including MPA to boost the growth of Singapore as a global LNG bunkering hub.
“Today marks another milestone in Singapore’s journey as an LNG bunkering hub,” said MPA chief executive Quah Ley Hoon.
“We see increased interest in LNG-fuelled vessels with more of such new vessels on order across various ship types. We look forward to an increase in uptake of LNG as a marine fuel in the Port of Singapore.”
FueLNG aims to provide a total of about 30 to 50 ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operations in 2021.
Important part of energy transition
“As the industry explores more sustainable marine fuels for the long term, LNG is an important part of the energy transition that enables the Port of Singapore to provide shipowners with the option to reduce vessel emissions today,” added FueLNG chairman and Keppel O&M chief executive Chris Ong.
Pacific Emerald is the first of 10 newbuild Aframax tankers chartered by Shell Tankers Singapore from Sinokor Petrochemical Company.
