Keppel Delivers Its First LNG Carrier Avenir Advantage

Keppel Offshore & Marine has delivered its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, Avenir Advantage, to Avenir LNG. The vessel also functions as an LNG bunkering vessel (LBV), making it the first in South East Asia to do so, Keppel said.

Avenir Advantage is the first of two such vessels that Keppel O&M is building for Avenir LNG. The 7,500m3 LBV was built at Keppel Nantong Shipyard in China and is equipped with engines that can run on both diesel and LNG. 

Keppel O&M’s technology arm, Offshore Technology Development (OTD), also installed and commissioned the vessel’s ballast water treatment system.

Tan Leong Peng, Managing Director (New Builds), Keppel O&M, said, “We are pleased to deliver Southeast Asia’s first LBV, which strengthens our capabilities and extends our track record in providing solutions across the gas value chain."

“This is the fourth dual-fuel vessel we have delivered, and one of four LNG bunkering vessels we are building. It is a testament to our versatility and ability to provide environmentally-friendly solutions for more sustainable vessel operations. Keppel O&M is well-positioned to capture opportunities in the LNG market as companies increasingly adopt LNG as a marine fuel for a wide range of vessels.”

Following its maiden voyage, Avenir Advantage will start its three-year charter with Petronas LNG to provide ship-to-ship LNG bunkering to vessels across Malaysia, and transport services as an LNG carrier for small-scale terminals in the region.

Avenir LNG’s CEO, Milorad Doljanin, said, “The flexible design of our vessels means our ships can support the development of the LNG bunker fuel market in the shorter term whilst underpinning our strategic objective to enable LNG supply to energy users who were previously unable to enjoy the environmental and cost benefits which LNG affords.”

Avenir LNG is currently building a fleet of six LBVs of 7,500m3 and 20,000m3 capacity and the HIGAS LNG import facility (10,800m3) in Sardinia Italy. Avenir Advantage is the first of two ships ordered from Keppel Nantong Shipyard. Each vessel has a cargo capacity of 7,500m3 across two Type C tanks.