ExxonMobil Charters Singapore's First LNG-fueled Bunker Barge

August 16, 2019

The 7,990 dwt newbuilding, soon to be christened Marine Vicky, will be the first bunker tanker for Singapore and Sinanju, to be powered mainly by LNG. (Image: Sinanju Tankers Holdings)

ExxonMobil Asia Pacific has signed a two-year time charter agreement with Singapore-based Sinanju Tankers Holdings Pte Ltd to lease Singapore's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered bunker tanker, Sinanju said in an statement on Friday.

The 7,990 deadweight tonnage (dwt) newbuild will be the first LNG bunker tanker for Singapore and Sinanju and will deliver ExxonMobil's new Engineered Marine Fuels (EMF.5) to ocean-going vessels within Singapore port limits from the first quarter of next year.

EMF.5 marine fuels are designed to comply with the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) global rules that limit the sulphur content in marine fuels to 0.5% from 2020, from 3.5% currently, according to the company's website.

Sinanju Managing Director Ju Kai Meng said the use of LNG for the tanker would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the bunker industry.

The vessel is expected to join Sinanju's 13 vessel bunker fleet in December 2019.

(Reporting by Roslan Khasawneh; editing by Richard Pullin)