Gasum subsidiary Skangas has completed 1,000 liquid natural gas (LNG) bunkering operations in 2017, representing more than 60% increase over previous years. Demand for LNG on the rise in Nordics Marine Market.

According to Skangas, the driving force behind this rise rests in supply to new vessels both in regular routes and in tramp/spot market. The market has been waiting for the LNG bunkering vessels, which is the practice of delivering LNG to ships to use as fuel for their own consumption.

Quest for clean fuel triggers demand

“As more and more operators convert their ships to clean fuel with LNG and dual-fuelled engines to power them, demand has risen significantly,” said Gunnar Helmen, Sales Manager - Marine for Skangas. “This is particularly true in European waters where, until recently, most of the traffic consisted of ferries and RoPax cruise ferries routinely traveling set routes. Today, the supply pattern is more diverse due to the use of a greater variety of vessels, that require different types of bunkering solutions. And we are responding directly by offering a number of solutions for this market.”

LNG is the cleanest available marine fuel; one that is rapidly becoming more commonly used as a cost-effective alternative. LNG is suitable for all vessel types, including ferries, passenger ships, tankers, bulk, supply and containerships. LNG offers several benefits by reducing local and global pollution. Switching to LNG completely removes SOx and particulates, and reduces NOx emissions by up to 85%. In addition, LNG reduces CO2 emissions by at least 20%. Use of LNG as marine fuel result in compliance with current and forthcoming IMO and EU regulations.

Custom bunker vessel Coralius ushers in ship-to-ship bunkering Anticipating the marine market’s desire to convert to cleaner fuels, Skangas has made a concerted effort to make LNG more accessible. In addition to expanding infrastructure and improving bunkering techniques, the company put its new customized bunker-feeder vessel Coralius into operation in 2017, ushering in a new era of efficiency in LNG bunkering.

The Coralius, which delivers LNG through ship-to-ship bunkering at sea, has improved the company’s ability to be more flexible and responsive to vessels that require LNG without visiting a terminal or port. Ship-to-ship bunkering is just one of the ways that Skangas supplies LNG. Vessels also easily access LNG directly from the Skangas network of terminals, its production facility near Stavanger, and via truck-to-ship bunkering at seaports throughout the Nordics.

About Skangas

The LNG Company Skangas is the leading player in the Nordic LNG market. The company supplies LNG for shipping, industrial and heavy-duty road transport needs. We help our customers reach their environmental and operational targets by offering efficient and stable LNG deliveries. Skangas has LNG terminals in Øra, Norway, and Lysekil, Sweden. Finland's first LNG import terminal will be completed in Pori in August 2016. Skangas is a subsidiary of the Finnish natural energy gas expert Gasum Ltd, and its shareholders are Gasum Ltd (51%) and the Norwegian Lyse Energi AS (49%).

About Gasum

Gasum subsidary Skangas operates a complete value chain in liquefied natural gas (LNG) to serve the Nordic markets: Skangas offers LNG for use as fuel in shipping and heavy-duty road transport, and in industrial processes outside the gas network.