Dutch marine fuel supplier Titan LNG has rolled out a tender for a new LNG bunkering barge that will be able to offer separate volumes of bio-LNG supply.

The company said the 4,200-cbm Titan Krios will operate with multiple tanks to segregate streams of LNG and carbon-neutral bio-LNG produced from biological waste streams.

The new vessel will be used to supply LNG as a marine fuel in the Port of Zeebrugge in Belgium, where Titan is already working, and English Channel ports from 2023.

Greek gods

The company described the Titan Krios — the vessel takes its name from Greek mythology, where Krios means "ruler" — as a "compact seagoing LNG bunker vessel that will offer good compatibility due to its "low air draught, high manoeuvrability, and small footprint".

The unit, which has been designed by HB Hunte Engineering, will be fitted with cargo conditioning equipment and two bow thrusters for easy manouvering.

Titan said: "As it can be stored and supplied using existing infrastructure, blended with LNG, and dropped into existing engine technology, bio-LNG presents a financially sound long-term investment for many operators and owners looking to decarbonise operations, and comply with emission reductions regulations."

Only choice

Titan commercial director Michael Schaap said: “As demand for LNG, and increasingly bio-LNG, accelerates, ensuring the right infrastructure and supply is in place for our customers is essential.

"LNG is the only fuel choice available today which offers immediate and long-term benefits to reducing GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions, and a clear pathway to achieving decarbonisation targets.

"With the new Titan Krios joining our expanding fleet, we will continue our efforts to enable a more sustainable future for shipping through global accessibility to LNG, bio-LNG and eventually clean LNG produced from green hydrogen.”

Growing fleet

Titan has been rapidly expanding its fleet and has said it will require at least 10 more vessels by 2025 to cater for upcoming demand.

The unveiling of the Titan Krios comes just one month after the company launched its second 1,500-cbm LNG bunker barge — the FlexFueler002 — that was co-built with gas infrastructure group Fluxys.

Titan also operates the 5,000-cbm Green Zeebrugge (built 2017) on long-term charter.

The company has also announced plans to build an 8,000-cbm seagoing vessel Hyperion, which will work in north-west Europe and the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp region. It also intends to build more FlexFueler vessels.