Skangas to Supply LNG-Fuelled Bulk Carriers
Leading northern European marine LNG supplier Skangas is to supply fuel to Finnish shipowner ESL Shipping’s two LNG-fuelled bulk carrier newbuildings that will start operating in 1H2018.
The new, ice-class 1A ships will be the first LNG-fuelled large bulk carriers in the world, said Skangas, and will operate in the Baltic and North Seas.
“Viikki will be the first vessel that we will serve from the new LNG terminal in Tornio”, said Kimmo Rahkamo, Skangas CEO on August 24 referring to the first of the two new ESL ships and to the Finnish bunkering terminal that Skangas will open next year in the far north of the Baltic’s Gulf of Bothnia.
The new terminal cost €100mn to build, has storage for 50,000 m3 of LNG, and was developed by Manga LNG, a consortium of leading northern Europe marine LNG distributor Skangas and three others (Outokumpu, SSAB Europe, EPV Energia).
Mikki Koskinen, ESL Shipping's managing director concurred: “Our combination of latest hull design and numerous other energy saving measures together with usage of LNG as fuel will reduce the carbon dioxide emissions per ton of cargo transported by more than 50% in comparison to present generation of vessels. This agreement also helps us to lower our operational costs.”
Gasum-controlled Skangas will also deliver ESL Shipping with LNG and liquefied biogas (LBG), which are interchangeable.
The company estimates that by 2020 there will be nearly 200 vessels worldwide running on LNG.
Viikki was named in June 2017; its sister ship is due to be christened next month (Photo credit: ESL Shipping)
Mark Smedley