Germany Preps for More FSRU Vessels
Germany is expanding its natural gas import options to replace Russian supply. Following are updates on key facilities and terminals being developed to host floating storage regasification units (FSRUs) to receive seaborne liquefied natural gas (LNG). Plans also include shore-based regasification terminals and facilities to import and produce ammonia and hydrogen.STADEState-owned Deutsche Energy Terminal (DET) has said in German media reports that FSRUs at both Stade and Wilhelmshaven 2 will start operations before the winter, without specifying precise commissioning dates.
LNG Tankers Divert to Europe After Russia Halts Austrian Supplies
At least five cargoes of LNG have diverted from Asia to Europe in the past few days, drawn by higher gas prices on the continent after Russia's Gazprom halted supplies to Austria's OMV, data from analytics firm Kpler showed.On Saturday Gazprom halted supplies to top Austrian gas importer OMV after OMV threatened to impound some of the Russian state firm's gas as compensation for an arbitration it had won over a contractual dispute.Gazprom notified OMV of the planned halt on Friday…
Japan’s First LNG Bunkering Vessel Marks Milestone
Japan's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessel Kaguya conducted its 100th ship-to-ship supply of LNG fuel, with the refueling of the car carrier Sakura Leader at the port of Mikawa in Aichi Prefecture.Kaguya was completed in 2020 as Japan's first LNG bunkering vessel and is operated by Central LNG Marine Fuel, a JV company among NYK, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, JERA Co, and others.Since October of the same year, the vessel has been part of Japan's first LNG bunkering business, using the ship-to-ship supply method.
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Christens LNG RORO
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding has launched the Trans Harmony Emerald, the second of two LNG-powered roros under construction for Toyofuji Shipping.The ship's handover is scheduled for June 2025 following completion of outfitting work and sea trials. The Trans Harmony Emerald will then serve on shipping routes in Asia.The vessel is approximately 195 meters in overall length, approximately 30.6 meters in breadth, and has gross tonnage of approximately 49,500. It can transport about 3…
Germany Rejects Russian LNG Shipment
Germany has refused to allow a Russian LNG shipment at the Brunsbuttel terminal in northern Germany in line with Berlin's policy not to import LNG from Russia, industry sources said on Thursday.The Financial Times reported earlier on Thursday that Germany's economy ministry BMWK had instructed the Deutsche Energy Terminal not to accept any deliveries of Russian LNG after the company informed Berlin that its Brunsbuttel import facility was set to receive a Russian cargo on Sunday.It was not clear who ordered the shipment.
Panama Canal Eyes Doubling Container Transits
The Panama Canal Authority could double in coming years the number of containers that move through the commercial waterway that links the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans, the canal's chief told a maritime conference.The authority, which has an $8 billion investment plan, is putting in place a water conservation strategy following a severe drought that forced ships between late 2023 and early 2024 to take alternative routes between the United States and Asia.As part of that, it is encouraging shippers to consolidate cargoes so less water is used for vessels to pass…
US LNG Firms Expect Expansion Regulations to Ease Under New Administration
U.S. liquefied natural gas developers awaiting permits for new export projects this week expressed confidence President-elect Donald Trump will ease the way for their multi-billion-dollar expansion plans.Their confidence is buoyed by Trump's promise to end an expanded Department of Energy review that has slowed new export permits. President Joe Biden had paused new non-FTA export permits and asked the DOE to more broadly evaluate the cumulative effects of new LNG projects' climate…
Venture Global gets FERC Nod for LA LNG Plant
Federal regulators on Wednesday gave Venture Global LNG permission to introduce natural gas into its Plaquemines export plant in Louisiana, documents show, moving the plant a step closer to producing the superchilled gas.The 20 million metric tons per annum (MTPA) Plaquemines LNG plant will be the second-largest U.S. export facility when fully operational. It and other projects due to start next year will help the United States retain its position as the world's largest exporter of the gas.Its commercial startup will make Venture Global the second-largest U.S.
VPS to Establish New Lab in China
Bunker fuel testing company VPS has joins forces with Lingang New Area in Shanghai to launch a new fuel testing lab and digital decarbonization platform.The partnership brings VPS to the Lingang New Area where it will establish a new facility to support the growth of sustainable fuel solutions including green methanol and LNG. It will provide testing, inspection and certification services.The aim is to drive environmental sustainability by leveraging advanced technology and data insights…
Panama to Cancel Flags on US-sanctioned LNG ships
Panama's Maritime Authority said on Wednesday it has begun a process to cancel flags on four LNG vessels sanctioned by the United States over their links with Russian gas producer Novatek.The vessels North Air, North Mountain, North Way and North Sky, which have been operating under Panama's flag, had previously been identified as part of Russia's dark tanker fleet, according to media reports quoted by the authority.
PIL Orders Five More Dual-Fuel LNG Container Ships
Pacific International Lines (PIL) has ordered another five 9,000 TEU dual-fuel LNG container vessels.The vessels will be built by one of China’s leading shipbuilders, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Hudong-Zhonghua), with delivery expected in 2027 and 2028.Earlier this year, PIL ordered five LNG dual-fuel container vessels with 13,000 TEU capacity from Hudong-Zhonghua. Similar to the earlier orders, these new vessels will be equipped with the latest digital technologies including AI and Internet of Things (IoT) for real-time monitoring and automation.The new 9…
Eni Scales Up LNG Bunkering Activities through Avenir LNG Charter Deal
Eni has signed a charter agreement for the LNG bunker vessel Avenir Aspiration with Avenir LNG to support an expand in activities in LNG bunkering market.The bunker vessel will supply LNG for cargo and passenger ships, which are increasingly being powered by LNG due to its lower environmental footprint compared to conventional fuels and its full compliance with the most recent standards in terms of emissions.This agreement further expands Eni’s activities in the small-scale LNG bunkering market in the Mediterranean Sea…
US LNG Exports Dip in September
U.S. exports of liquefied natural gas fell slightly in September as plant maintenance trimmed output, while Europe remained the leading destination, data from financial firm LSEG showed.Gulf Coast plants escaped any major impact from hurricanes last month, helping the U.S. to retain its status as the world's largest LNG exporter.Exports of the superchilled gas fell to 7.26 million metric tons in September, just down from August, when the U.S. sold 7.48 MT, LSEG data showed.U.S.
UK Introduces Sanctions on Russian Oil and LNG vessels
Britain has imposed sanctions on 18 further Russian oil tankers and four liquefied natural gas vessels, the largest batch of sanctions to date against the country's so-called "shadow fleet," the government said on Thursday.Britain says the 'shadow fleet' uses illicit practices to avoid Western restrictions on Russian oil.The government said it was working with maritime authorities to demand that Russian vessels with suspected dubious insurance provide details of their insurance status as they pass through the English Channel."Any actor that facilitates and supports Russia's malign activities c
Woodside Takes Over and Renames Driftwood LNG Development
Woodside has completed the acquisition of Tellurian Inc. and its US Gulf Coast Driftwood LNG development opportunity.Woodside has acquired all issued and outstanding Tellurian common stock for approximately $1.00 per share to bring the value of the transaction to approximately $1,200 million.Woodside has also renamed the Driftwood LNG development opportunity Woodside Louisiana LNG.Woodside Louisiana LNG is an under-construction, pre-final investment decision (FID), LNG production and export terminal in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.
MOL Inks Charter for Singapore’s First FSRU with Singapore LNG Corp
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has signed an agreement with Singapore LNG Corporation, Singapore's state-owned LNG terminal operator, on a long-term time charter contract for one newbuilding floating storage regasification unit (FSRU).The FSRU will be built at Hanwha Ocean in South Korea. After delivery, planned for 2027, MOL will own, manage, and operate the FSRU.The 200,000 m3 FSRU will be moored at the Jurong Port in Singapore, and will play a central role in receiving, storing and regasifying LNG…
Russia Opts for Ship-To-Ship LNG Transfers to Free Up Ice-Class Tankers
Russia plans to arrange ship-to-ship transfers of liquefied natural gas and gas condensate in the Barents and Bering Seas to free up more ice-class tankers for its biggest LNG producer, Novatek, a draft project document showed on Tuesday.Novatek has been pressing ahead with its new Arctic LNG 2 project despite Western sanctions restricting access to the tankers it needs to carry LNG along the Northern Sea Route to Asian markets.
LNG Carriers Shift Away from Arctic Routes as Winter Nears
Ships carrying Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Asia are returning to the longer routes around Africa's Cape of Good Hope rather than those along the Arctic shore as the winter season begins, LSEG data showed on Thursday.Russia's new Arctic LNG 2 project also lacks enough ice-class gas carriers to continue navigation along the Northern Sea Route, although some such tankers still sail it.According to LSEG data, the conventional gas tanker LNG Megrez loaded at Yamal LNG plant on Oct. 2 and started its voyage around Africa to Asia with arrival set for Nov.
Russia Designing Nuclear-powered Submarines to Transport Gas from the Arctic
Russia has begun designing nuclear-powered submarines to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Arctic to Asia to try to nearly halve the journey time along the Northern Sea Route (NSR), a senior state official has said.Russia already uses nuclear-powered ice breakers to pave the way for such transport via the NSR, which runs along Russia's Arctic shores from Murmansk in the west to the Bering Strait in the east, a route Moscow sees as a faster alternative to the Suez Canal and has plans to develop.But Russia is suffering from a shortage of vessels able to battle thick Arctic ice…
PIL Names LNG Dual-Fuel Container Ships
Pacific International Lines (PIL) has named its first two 14,000 TEU container vessels in a ceremony at Jiangnan Shipyard in China. They are the largest vessels in PIL’s fleet as well as the first to fully run on LNG.The vessels have been named Kota Eagle and Kota Emerald, conveying PIL’s aim to be a sustainable shipping line which co-exists harmoniously with nature and the environment.The vessels will sail from the Far East to Latin America on PIL’s West Coast Central and South…
Russian Arctic LNG 2 Project Partners are Sanction Targets
The United States has imposed sanctions on hundreds of entities and individuals for supporting Russia's war effort in Ukraine, including companies supporting the development of Russia's Arctic LNG 2 project and its shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG), as well as other future energy projects.The Arctic LNG 2 project by Russia's Novatek is subject to Western sanctions over Russia's conflict with Ukraine. The project had been due to become Russia's largest LNG plant with eventual…
New LNG Bunker Vessel for TotalEnergies LNG Bunkering Ops
TotalEnergies signed a charter contract with Spanish shipowner Ibaizabal for a new Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) bunker vessel of 18,600m3 capacity.This additional vessel might be deployed in Oman, where the company is developing the Marsa LNG project with the objective to provide LNG to the shipping sector in the Gulf.The vessel, owned by Ibaizabal, will supply LNG to a wide range of vessels (containerships, tankers, large cruise ships, ferries) at TotalEnergies’ LNG bunkering hubs.This new vessel…
LNG Shipping Rates Tumble as New Vessels Enter Market
Liquefied natural gas shipping rates have hit multi-year lows and may extend losses going into 2025, analysts and shipping sources said, with new tankers being added at a faster rate than LNG production is rising and spot demand still tepid.New LNG tankers, built in anticipation of rising U.S. exports after a plunge in Russian gas supplies to Europe in 2022, are coming online earlier than liquefaction projects, which have been delayed amid inflation from strong wage growth and a shortage of skilled labour and equipment.With more ships expected to come…