Bunker Holding Group is making a move into LNG by adding its own supply and a vessel in north-west Europe to its existing fuels provider brand, Bunker One.
The company has set up a new entity, Bunker One LNG, to manage its physical LNG fuel portfolio.
This will include both physical LNG and mass-balanced liquefied biomethane or LBM.
Bunker One LNG has also chartered its first LNG bunker vessel from Anthony Veder, the 10,000-cbm Coral Fraseri (built 2010), the company said without giving details of the charter-hire period.
It said the new entity will be headed by managing director Michael Behmerburg, previously the director of green fuels with German liner company Hapag-Lloyd.
Behmerburg said: “We are working hand in hand with the vessel’s owner Anthony Veder to bring the vessel into operation.”
He said the ship will undergo a regular class renewal at the end of 2024, during which several modifications will be carried out to enhance its capabilities as an LNGBV.
The company said the modification is to prepare the vessel for best-in-class service to the majority of seagoing vessels, including tankers, container ships and car carriers.
Bunker One LNG is in the process of securing bunker permits, which will cover key ports in north-west Europe, it said.
Bunker One chief executive Peter Zachariassen said: “Michael brings a wealth of experience, that is important for us to navigate properly in the upcoming transition.”
Bunker Holding senior director of new fuels and carbon markets Valerie Ahrens said: “We are very excited about this move to include the physical supply of LNG and LBM as part of Bunker Holding’s fuel offering, which builds on our successful activities supplying LNG through third parties.
“Fossil LNG can offer up to 23% in greenhouse gas reductions compared to conventional fuels and accompanies shipping’s transition to a multi-fuel future.”
She added: “.. we regard LNG as a stepping stone to bio-LNG and e-LNG, which will help the industry achieve the mid-century decarbonisation targets set by the IMO.”
