
France-based TotalEnergies has agreed to a contract with Ibaizabal, a ship owner based in Spain, to charter a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunker vessel.
The aim is to supply the marine shipping industry with cleaner fuel. LNG is an immediately available alternative fuel to help the shipping sector reduce its emissions as it transitions to a greener future.
When used to fuel ships, it cuts the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) by approximately 20%. Air quality is also significantly enhanced, thanks to it cutting emissions of fine particles and sulphur oxides by 99%, and nitrogen oxides by as much as 85%. This is something that will benefit residents living near ports where ships are berthed.
TotalEnergies, which also makes the Total coolant range, says GHGs could be reduced further in the future by using biologically produced or synthesised LNG.
The senior vice president for marine and aviation fuels at TotalEnergies, Louise Tricoire, said the new agreement:
“…reinforces our position as a main player in LNG bunkering. With new LNG-fuelled vessels coming on stream at a rapid pace, we are committed to playing our part in responding to the sector’s increasing demand for this fuel, which can help global shipping meet its decarbonisation ambitions.”
TotalEnergies currently has LNG bunker vessels deployed at major ports: one in the Port of Rotterdam called the Gas Agility, one in the Port of Singapore named the Brassavola and one in the Port of Marseille, called the Gas Vitality. China’s Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding organisation is currently building the new vessel, which will join TotalEnergies’ existing fleet by the end of next year.