Classification society DNV GL is launching a new digital tool to for shipowners and operators navigating the LNG bunkering process.
DNV GL’s chief consultant Martin Wold and Jon Anders Ryste, a senior consultant on environmental advisory with the class society, introduced FuelBoss at IQPC’s Global LNG Bunkering Summit 2020 in Amsterdam.
The new system, which launches in April, will allow shipowners to nominate their vessels and give the details of what volumes they need delivered and where.
These can be sent digitally to LNG bunker suppliers who can then see this against their LNG bunker vessel schedule. FuelBoss also includes an integrated messaging system
Once a bunkering operation has been agreed the parties can track documentation and operations. It also allows for electronic document signing between the vessel captains.
Wold said the system will also include AIS-powered business intelligence on LNG bunker vessels.
He said this will also allow suppliers to target LNG shipowners without LNG-fuelled ships and advance discussions further.
The system is being built by Teqplay which has been working with energy major Shell on digital solutions for LNG bunkering since 2018.
Wold said digitalisation is important for LNG bunkering as the market is still small and just emerging.
He said the market is seeing increased demand for flexibility and spot bunkering where heavy planning is needed for operations and there are growing challenges to match scheduling.
One of three pilot users Gasum gave the new system the thumbs up.
Sales director Jacob Granqvist said FuelBoss will allow Gasum to do things more efficiently but will also make things easier both for the company and its customers.
Granqvist said Gasum is also building a digital platform. He said that this together with FuelBoss allows him to “dare to speak” about “disruption” for the shipping industry.
