Nauticor conducts first STS product tanker LNG bunkering in Germany

The bunkering operation for the product tanker Ramelia was conducted in the port of Brunsbüttel at the river Elbe. The operation also marked another milestone with it being the first bunkering operation carried out by Nauticor since the company became a part of Gasum on 30 April 2020. The Ramelia is owned by Donsö based shipowner Älvtank and is managed by the tanker pool of the Gothia Tanker Alliance. Like several LNG bunkering operations before, the operation was conducted under the LNG supply agreement, which was signed by Furetank Rederi, a member of the Gothia Tanker Alliance, and Nauticor in 2018.

“By using LNG as fuel we are working on reducing the environmental impact through lower emissions and less noise. Having access to a comprehensive LNG supply network is a prerequisite to do so and we are glad that thanks to the efforts of Nauticor and Gasum the availability of LNG is secured in a growing number of places in Northwest Europe,” says Christian Nilsson, Managing Director of Älvtank.

Together with Linde AG’s LNG and biogas business in Scandinavia, Nauticor’s marine bunkering business was acquired by Gasum on 30 April 2020.

“The acquisition of Nauticor is an important step in Gasum’s growth strategy and the successful bunkering of Ramelia underlines our commitment to develop the clean marine bunkering business in Northwest Europe, adding Germany to the list of countries we are active in to ensure the availability of environmentally-friendly LNG for our customers,” says Jacob Granqvist, Sales Director Maritime in Gasum.

The bunkering operation in Brunsbüttel is already the second German premiere LNG event to take place at the port after the first German STS LNG bunkering operation was conducted there by Nauticor’s BSV Kairos in 2019.

“The first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operation for a product tanker in German waters is the next milestone for establishing LNG as environmentally-friendly fuel for ships and strengthens the role of Brunsbüttel as the leading LNG hub at the German North Sea coast. We are pleased to have found a competent partner in Nauticor and we are looking forward to conducting more bunkering operations together”, says Frank Schnabel, Managing Director at Brunsbüttel Ports GmbH/ Schrammgroup.

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/small-scale-lng/07052020/nauticor-conducts-first-sts-product-tanker-lng-bunkering-in-germany/