AG&P makes strategic equity investment in Kanfer Shipping

Kanfer is a Norway-based developer of small scale LNG sea transportation, maritime breakbulk solutions, floating storage facilities, and LNG bunkering. Together, the two companies will make LNG more accessible and commercially viable for downstream customers in new and growing natural gas markets.

Kanfer is the owner of a patented, unique barge design that makes breaking bulk cargoes of LNG easier, faster and more efficient. The company’s small scale solution uses the patented Detachable Stern Vessel (DSV) design to create an advanced version of the commonly used Articulated Tug Barge (ATB). The DSV efficiently transports LNG to and from a floating storage unit (FSU), floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) or land-based LNG terminals via a small and manoeuvrable barge that brings LNG to drop-points up rivers and along coasts.

AG&P claims the DSV distinguishes itself by easily navigating rivers and coastlines, including in poor weather conditions and difficult sea states, an improvement over traditional ATBs. Its shallow draft allows access to downstream customers seeking a cleaner and lower cost fuel source by minimising onerous marine infrastructure. These advantages enable new LNG service for smaller demand centres or for larger demand centres in places that are less accessible.

Karthik Sathyamoorthy, President of LNG Terminals and Logistics at AG&P, said: “AG&P’s goal is to bring LNG to new markets. One of the missing links has been the capability to break-bulk LNG affordably. Kanfer’s designs unlock these new markets and solve a critical gap in the LNG supply chain for nascent and growing markets. We are thus delighted to bring Kanfer Shipping into AG&P’s group of companies. Under Stig Hagen’s visionary leadership, Kanfer has brought new and exciting solutions to the maritime industry that provide a compelling alternative to traditional, capital-intensive onshore LNG facilities.”

Stig Anders Hagen, Managing Partner at Kanfer Shipping, added: “We have worked long and hard at Kanfer to find a real solution to the LNG virtual pipeline – one that stands on its commercial and technical merits. Now, we are honoured to be partnered with AG&P, a global trailblazer in LNG solutions and gas logistics. Together, we will reduce the cost of LNG infrastructure through Kanfer’s innovative solutions and provide a more robust solution to improve availability and accessibility. I am very excited about the possibilities.

“Kanfer will benefit from AG&P’s strong heritage in engineering and infrastructure construction, its deep technical experience and end-to-end execution capabilities in serving customers anywhere in the world.”

Jose P. Ibazeta, Director of AG&P, said: “AG&P has recognised the rapid and accelerating market shift to LNG as a primary fuel for land and marine applications. Three years ago, we invested in Gas Entec, the leading LNG terminal, bunkering and fuel system engineering company, and today in Kanfer Shipping to create a unique and compelling ecosystem for the development of LNG and gas delivery systems. Kanfer’s expertise complements and expands our passion for an integrated approach to LNG logistics and will enable us to reach new customers in Southeast Asia, the Caribbean and beyond.”

Together, AG&P, Kanfer and their partners will offer project owners and customers a fully integrated solution consisting of the following:

• LNG supply.
• Large scale LNG transportation.
• Large scale FSU.
• Small scale LNG shipping for downstream distribution.
• Small scale FSU.
• Onshore logistics and onsite infrastructure to provide reliable supply to downstream demand centres.
• A delivered cost to the customers’ doorstep.

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/liquid-natural-gas/14112019/agp-makes-strategic-equity-investment-in-kanfer-shipping/