Veder leads small-scale LNG rush

READY FOR ANYTHING

LNG • ANTHONY VEDER’S WILLINGNESS TO INVEST IN SMALL, FLEXIBLE GAS SHIPS HAS SEEN IT RACK UP SEVERAL FIRSTS IN REGIONAL LNG DISTRIBUTION AND BUNKERING OPERATIONS

ROTTERDAM-BASED GAS tanker specialist Anthony Veder is to convert its LNG carrier Coral Methane into a dedicated LNG bunkering vessel. The 7,500-m3 tanker, built in 2009, currently operates as a multipurpose gas carrier on behalf of Shell and it is on Shell’s request that the conversion will take place.

“We are proud to offer Shell this pioneering solution that once again emphasises our expertise and continuous focus on safety and innovation,” says Jan Valkier, CEO of Anthony Veder. “Furthermore, the modification project enables us to continue to build on our strong partnership with Shell and to drive sustainable change in our industry.”

Modification work is due to start early in 2018. Once complete, Coral Methane will cover LNG bunkering demands across Europe, primarily in the southern part of the North Sea and in the Mediterranean.

BUILT FOR PURPOSE Coral Methane is just one example of the innovative approach Anthony Veder has taken to the transport of gases in northern Europe. The ship has played a “crucial part”, the company says, in developing small-scale LNG business for both Anthony Veder and

CONVERSION OF THE SMALL LNG CARRIER TO A

BUNKERING VESSEL WILL DEEPEN COOPERATION Shell. This included opening up LNG transport along the Norwegian coast and “setting a track record” of successful LNG ship-toship transfer and ship-to-shore operations. Last year it was the first ship to load at the new third jetty at the Gate LNG terminal in Rotterdam, which was designed specifically for small-scale operations.

Some of these advances were built into Coral Methane from the design stage: it was fitted with electric azimuth pod propulsion to offer maximum flexibility and high manoeuvrability, which was seen as essential for work in the Norwegian fjords. This ability also makes it an ideal candidate for work as a bunkering vessel.

Anthony Veder was also involved in construction of Europe’s first purpose-built LNG bunkering vessel, in a joint venture with Sirius Shipping of Sweden. The 5,800-m3 Coralius was built by Royal Bedewes in the Netherlands after close cooperation between the owners and the charterer, Skangas.

Coralius was delivered in early September 2017, arriving just in time to be shown off at the annual Donsö Shipping Meet. Skangas customers and other interested parties were invited on board to see the innovations that had were part the vessel design, which included the latest gas engines and large monitoring screens on the bridge.

Within the month, Coralius had loaded its maiden cargo of LNG at the Skangas production facility in Stavanger, Norway and had delivered it to the Skangas terminal in Øra, near Frederikstad.

“We are very content with further developing the marine LNG availability in northern Europe by our new ship Coralius,” said Skangas CEO Kimmo Rahkamo at the time. “We look forward to serving our existing and new customers whenever they need LNG by ship-to-ship. Today the technology and ship engines are sound for gas and we are more than ready to supply it by our European supply chain.”

Anthony Veder currently operates a fleet of 30 gas tankers, of which seven have the capability to be fuelled by LNG. More than half the fleet is capable of carrying ethylene, and there is also one vessel dedicated to the transport of carbon dioxide. HCB www.anthonyveder.com www.skangas.com