On 12 September, Nauticor's bunker vessel Kairos filled up the oil products tanker Ternsund, currently on charter by the Finnish fuel supply company NEOT, with 150t of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
According to the parties, not only was it the first LNG bunker operation in the Swedish Port of Södertälje, but also the first simultaneous bunkering-cargo unloading operations (SIMOPS) done in the Baltic Sea.
NEOT and Nauticor have entered into an agreement due to which the latter will deliver LNG to the former's fleet of time-chartered gas-run oil products tankers.
"The first LNG bunker operation was a huge success and the cooperation between the terminal and port operators, the crews on board of the LNG bunker vessel and the receiving vessel went very well. Establishing alternative fuels in the port fits perfectly well into our overall strategy to minimize environmental impact and emissions. Supporting the development of solutions, which benefit both the business and the environment, is an investment into the future of our port," Åsa Boström, Controller, the Port of Södertälje, commented.
To this Sonja Neßhöver, Director LNG Portfolio, Nauticor, added, "The first SIMOPS LNG bunker operation at an oil terminal in the Baltic Sea marks an important milestone for the development of the LNG supply infrastructure. We are happy to have been chosen by NEOT as partner for this operation and see a profound basis for future operations after such a successful first run."
Satu Mattila, Head of Planning, Shipping and Operations, NEOT, also said, "Our vision is to become the most innovative and cost-efficient fuel solutions supply company. We are continuously seeking ways to reduce the environmental impact of our operations, including shipping. LNG is an established fuel solution with lower environmental impact that has been used in our shipping operations for years. We are continuously developing more flexible sourcing options for LNG together with our partners, and the first LNG bunkering in Södertälje is again another great step forward."
Photo: Telge