The bunkering vessel ENGIE Zeebrugge performed in the port of Zeebrugge, Belgium, its first deliveries of LNG (liquefied natural gas) as a marine fuel to M/V AUTO ECO and M/V AUTO ENERGY, the two new gas-propelled pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs) of UECC. The LNG bunkering operations were conducted at the same time that the cargo operations for PCTCs were taking place.

ENGIE Zeebrugge, which is the world’s first purpose-built LNG bunkering vessel, arrived in Zeebrugge at the beginning of April after delivery from Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Co. Ltd in Busan, South Korea, and a 38-day maiden voyage. She is now executing a weekly service to the PCTCs of UECC and is the world’s first LNG bunkering vessel to perform regular ship-to-ship bunkering services. ENGIE Zeebrugge loads LNG at Fluxys’ LNG terminal which recently commissioned its second jetty specifically designed for also receiving very small LNG carriers.

ENGIE Zeebrugge is jointly owned by ENGIE, Mitsubishi Corporation, NYK, and Fluxys. With an LNG capacity of 5,000 m³, she will service all types of shipping customers in Northern Europe from her home port of Zeebrugge, under the brand Gas4Sea.

This commercial brand was launched in September 2016 by ENGIE, Mitsubishi Corporation, and NYK to promote and develop the use of LNG as a sustainable alternative to conventional oil-based marine fuels.

The first ship-to-ship bunkering operations are a key milestone in the development of the nascent LNG bunkering market, which needs the collaboration of many stakeholders to gain a foothold: industrial companies, manufacturers, regulatory bodies, port authorities, and shipping companies. The joint efforts of the companies and authorities involved seek to curb carbon and health impacting emissions in shipping and come in support of the European alternative fuels strategy for sustainable mobility.

1 - ENGIE Zeebrugge loading at Fluxys’ LNG Terminal

2 - First LNG ship-to-ship operation in the port of Zeebrugge

© Port of Zeebrugge

Photos available on demand.

About ENGIE

ENGIE develops its businesses (power, natural gas, energy services) around a model based on responsible growth to take on the major challenges of energy’s transition to a low-carbon economy: access to sustainable energy, climate-change mitigation and adaptation and the rational use of resources. The Group provides individuals, cities and businesses with highly efficient and innovative solutions largely based on its expertise in four key sectors: renewable energy, energy efficiency, liquefied natural gas and digital technology. ENGIE employs 153,090 people worldwide and achieved revenues of €66.6 billion in 2016. The Group is listed on the Paris and Brussels stock exchanges (ENGI) and is represented in the main international indices: CAC 40, CAC 40 Governance, BEL 20, DJ Euro Stoxx 50, Euronext 100, FTSE Eurotop 100, MSCI Europe, DJSI World, DJSI Europe and Euronext Vigeo (World 120, Eurozone 120, Europe 120 and France 20).

www.engie.com/en/

About Mitsubishi Corporation and its Energy Business

Mitsubishi Corporation currently has seven Business Groups which develop operations in the diverse fields of Global Environmental & Infrastructure Business; Industrial Finance, Logistics & Development; Energy Business; Metals; Machinery; Chemicals; and Living Essentials.

Mitsubishi Corporation’s Energy group aspires to make a valuable contribution to society through the provision of stable supplies of energy. Our business model seeks to cover areas ranging from upstream to downstream in the energy value chain. We explore for, develop and produce oil and gas, and have investments in numerous LNG projects and related business model worldwide. www.mitsubishicorp.com/jp/en/

About NYK

NYK (Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha) is one of the world's leading transportation companies. At the end of March 2017, the NYK Group was operating 799 major ocean vessels, as well as fleets of planes and trucks. The group’s vessel fleet includes 70 LNG carriers (including those owned by equity method affiliates) and 63 other types of tankers operated in the energy transportation division. Also in August 2015, the innovative LNG-fueled tugboat named “Sakigake” was added to the fleet.

With unceasing efforts for the quality improvement, NYK Group is expanding LNG transport business, the shuttle tanker business, and Floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) business together with leading business partners and customers. www.nyk.com/english/

About Fluxys

Fluxys is a Belgium-based, fully independent gas infrastructure group. The company is a major gas transit operator and its offering combines gas transmission, gas storage and terminalling of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Present across Europe, the company focuses on safe, efficient and sustainable operations, quality services in line with market expectations and creating long-term value for its shareholders.

Besides its pipeline, storage and LNG terminalling assets in Belgium (owned and operated by NYSE Euronext listed Fluxys Belgium), Fluxys’ partnerships include ownership in the Interconnector and BBL pipelines linking the UK with mainland Europe, the Dunkirk LNG terminal in France, the NEL and TENP pipelines in Germany, the Transitgas pipeline in Switzerland, the Swedegas infrastructure in Sweden and the TAP pipeline from Turkey to Italy under construction to bring gas coming from Azerbaijan and potentially other sources to Europe. www.fluxys.com

About the port of Zeebrugge

The port of Zeebrugge, a gashub for 30 years, aims to play a lead role in the evolution of LNG fuelling. Zeebrugge is a gas distribution platform where liquid natural gas is supplied by methane tankers, mainly coming from Qatar. This liquefied natural gas is stored at the Fluxys-terminal in the outer port and turned into gas prior to insertion in the Belgian network. Also gas is deliveredthrough pipelines via the “Zeepipe" of Gassco from the Norvegion gasfields and via the “Interconnector” from Great Britain. With this expertise in the port, it is the ambition of the port authority to act as a facilitator and to be among the first movers in the development of LNG as a marine fuel. www.portofzeebrugge.be

About UECC

UECC - United European Car Carriers - was founded in 1990 and is today one of Europe’s Leading Short Sea RoRo Operators.  Our fleet of 18 purpose-built vessels transports approximately 1.7 million cars, commercial vehicles, trailers and high & heavy units every year. UECC’s Liner Trading Network covers Europe from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. We are well established as a carrier with reliable schedules and as a trustworthy business partner. UECC also operates vehicle terminals and warehousing operations at a number of European ports. Our services are backed-up by dedicated professionals and supported by proven IT solutions.  Our vision is to be “The leading provider of short sea RoRo transportation in Europe”.

M/V AUTO ECO and M/V AUTO ENERGY:

Their names say it all: an ecologically sustainable giant of a ship, made for transporting some of the most valuable cargo on the water. They are the largest dual-fuel PCTCs in the world, and the biggest ever 1A super Finnish/Swedish ice classed vessels.  One of the most technically advanced PCTC’s ever built, AUTO ECOand AUTO ENERGY can complete a fourteen-day round voyage in the Baltic using solely LNG fuel, including the main engine and auxiliary power generation. Boasting a capacity of approximately 4000 cars, including 6000 sqm of high and heavy cargo, both vessels have the capability to load cargo on 10 decks with a maximum cargo weight of 160MT.  With the additional of E-class vessels to the family, UECC not only strengthens its market position, but also assumes the role of technological pioneer through the characteristics of these unique vessels. 

UECC is jointly owned by NYK and Wallenius Lines, and via our owners, shipping and transport solutions can be provided to destinations worldwide.

www.uecc.com