Keppel Nantong Shipyard in China recently launched the first LNG bunkering vessel that will sail under the Singaporean flag.
The 7,500-cubic-metre vessel was ordered FueLNG, a joint venture between Keppel Offshore and Marine (Keppel O&M) and Shell Eastern Petroleum.
Completion is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2020.
The bunkering vessel, which will be able to run on both LNG and marine diesel oil, is currently being built to a proprietary design developed by Keppel O&M's technology arm, Keppel Marine and Deepwater Technology (KMDTech).
Key features of the vessel include high manoeuvrability which enables bunkering without tug assistance, compatibility with a wide range of vessels, as well as propulsion and power management systems that optimise fuel consumption.
The vessel will have a filling rate range of up to 1,000 cubic metres of LNG per hour and will be able to supply LNG to various types of vessels at heights ranging from three metres to 23 metres above water level.