Shell to charter LNG-powered barges

Shell Trading Rotterdam BV has announced that it has signed a time-charter agreement with Plouvier Transport NV and Intertrans Tankschiffahrt AG for 15 new inland dual-fuel barges, which will predominantly run on LNG.

VEKA Shipbuilding BV will build these LNG-fuelled barges, which will support Shell’s growing business in trading and transporting mineral oil products in the ARA (Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp) and Rhinetrack (Germany/Switzerland) regions.

Dr Grahaeme Henderson, Vice President of Shell Shipping and Maritime, said: “These innovative new vessels will enable a step-change in the safety and environmental performance of our barge fleet. Chartering these cutting-edge vessels from owners who share our vision helps drive innovation in the barge sector, and we are proud to be leading in the development of LNG as a cleaner fuel for shipping.”

This investment underlines Shell’s confidence in LNG becoming a bigger part of the global transport fuel mix and supports the development of a new European LNG marine fuel industry for inland and coastal vessels. It is expected that these barges will refuel with LNG from an LNG break bulk terminal, currently being built by the Gas Access to Europe (Gate) terminal in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Wärtsilä will provide the main engines for the barges. These engines will run on 95 - 98% LNG fuel with a small proportion of diesel used for ignition.

A staggered delivery of the barges is expected to take place between late-2016 and mid- 2018.

Edited from press release by Callum O'Reilly

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/liquid-natural-gas/18122015/shell-to-charter-lng-powered-barges-1791/