December 1, 2021. The CMA CGM Group, a world leader in shipping and logistics, and Shell have performed the first Bio-LNG bunkering trial in Rotterdam. The Containerships Aurora, a 1,400 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) LNG-powered vessel, was bunkered by Shell with a nearly 10% blend of low carbon Bio-LNG while calling at Rotterdam. The vessel received around 483 m3 (219 tonnes) of LNG, 44 m3 (20 tonnes) of which were Bio-LNG.
Safe and efficient bunkering operation was performed by the barge LNG London at the Rotterdam Short Sea Terminals. The operation was thus successfully conducted by means of a ship-to-ship transfer while the Containerships Aurora carried out cargo operations simultaneously, ensuring schedule integrity.
Shell’s Bio-LNG offering, combined with the dual-fuel gas engine technology developed by CMA CGM, has the potential to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions (including carbon dioxide) by at least 67% well-to-wake (the complete value chain) compared to VLSFO.
The CMA CGM Group’s dual-fuel gas vessels, which operate today with LNG and biomethane, already have the technical capability of using e-methane (instead of LNG), a source of carbon-neutral fuel. This “e-methane ready” fleet consists of 20 vessels already in service and a total of 44 vessels by the end of 2024.
Tahir Faruqui, General Manager, Shell Global Downstream LNG said: “Shell believes LNG is the first integral step to decarbonize the shipping sector. LNG offers immediate emissions reduction and has the potential to become a net zero emission marine fuel given the possible roles of Bio-LNG and synthetic LNG. We look forward to assessing how the supply chain might be scaled to enable LNG to become a viable carbon neutral marine fuel.”
Farid Trad, Vice President of the CMA CGM Group, Energy transition and Bunkering, said: “CMA CGM believes LNG is one of the first steps towards achieving our target to achieve net zero carbon by 2050. LNG-powered vessels enable to reach, as of today, step 2 of this process which is the use of Bio-LNG.”
