Nauticor and ESL Shipping sign long-term LNG supply contract

ESL Shipping is a Finnish shipping company and is part of Aspo Plc. Nauticor, meanwhile, is a 100% owned subsidiary of the Linde Group. The contract contains the provision of LNG for the handy size bulk carriers, Haaga and Viikki.

The Managing Director of ESL Shipping, Mikki Koskinen, said: “The new vessels combine innovative hull design, the use of LNG as fuel and other energy saving measures, thereby reduce emissions significantly and make shipping even more sustainable. We are glad that we can offer this environmental-friendly mode of transport to our customers with the supply of LNG in the port of Oxelösund being secured by Nauticor.”

The vessels are the first of their kind to operate on LNG, and commenced operations in the Baltic Sea region in October this year. The Ice Class 1A vessels can operate in the most challenging weather conditions, and will be used predominantly for the transport of raw materials between various ports in the Baltic and North Sea.

According to the statement, Nauticor’s new 7500 m³ LNG bunker supply vessel, Kairos, will play a key role in the development of the tailor-made supply chain for the two carriers. In addition to this, Nauticor claims that it will work closely with its sister company AGA operating the Linde Group’s LNG terminal in Nynäshamn, Sweden.

The CEO of Nauticor, Mahinde Abeynaike, said: “Building up on the experience that we have gained in the development of LNG supply chains for maritime customers in the North Sea and Baltic Sea, we are very happy to support a frontrunner like ESL. Their initiative to order two LNG-fuelled bulk carriers is another important milestone for making shipping more sustainable in Northwest Europe.”

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/lng-shipping/29102018/nauticor-and-esl-shipping-sign-long-term-lng-supply-contract/