First ship-to-containership LNG bunkering conducted at Port of Marseille Fos

The 15,000 TEU LNG-powered containership CMA CGM Bali was refuelled by TotalEnergies’ Gas Vitality, the first LNG bunker vessel based in France, with around 6,000m3 of LNG via ship-to-ship transfer alongside the Eurofos container terminal, while the containership carried out cargo operations simultaneously.

The 18,600m3 Gas Vitality completed its first LNG loading operation at the Fos Cavaou LNG Terminal in December 2021. https://www.motorship.com/lng/gas-vitality-completes-first-lng-loading-operation-at-new-fos-cavaou-lng-terminal/1467619.article

CMA CGM has chosen TotalEnergies to supply them with gas in Rotterdam, Singapore and Marseille. Marseille is the first LNG bunkering hub in France and CMA CGM’s third one to be created after Rotterdam and Singapore.

Since November 2020, TotalEnergies has been operating the 18,600m3 Gas Agility at the Port of Rotterdam where it completed the first LNG bunkering operation of the CMA CGM Jacques Saade, the largest dual-fuel LNG-powered containership in the world. TotalEnergies has also commenced operations of a third LNG bunker vessel to serve Singapore, where the company has been awarded a LNG bunker supplier license for a five-year term starting January 1, 2022.

As part of its strategy to reduce greenhouse gases emissions in maritime transportation, TotalEnergies has in parallel chartered two very large crude carriers and four Aframax vessels, all equipped with LNG propulsion, which will be delivered in 2022 and 2023 respectively.

As a next step in the development of lower-carbon LNG for maritime transport, TotalEnergies, CMA CGM, Elengy and EveRé have announced a joint study to create France’s first production unit for liquefied biomethane (BioLNG) at Port of Marseille Fos. BioLNG will be produced by converting the biodegradable part of household waste from Marseille Provence region and used primarily for CMA CGM’s LNG-powered vessels.

BioLNG, combined with the dual-fuel gas engine technology developed by CMA CGM, reduces greenhouse gas emissions by at least 67% relative to VLSFO.

In November of 2017, Rodolphe Saadé, CMA CGM Group’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, decided to make CMA CGM the first ship-owner in the world to equip its flagship 23,000-TEU vessels with engines using LNG – a first in the history of shipping for ultra large containerships.

Christine Cabau, Executive Vice President Operations and Assets of the CMA CGM Group said: “This LNG bunkering operation is an important milestone for our group, in many ways. It sets France and Marseille maritime and port cluster on the frontline for the decarbonization of shipping. It enhances LNG solutions as the first step of a broader industrial strategy that will take us to alternative fuels such as biomethane and synthetic methane. It is also another proof of the commitment of CMA CGM toward Marseilles and its region. We are very proud to act both globally and locally to develop sustainably our business”.

Cyril Ducau, CEO of Eastern Pacific Shipping said, “By teaming up with environmentally conscious partners such as CMA CGM, TotalEnergies, and the Port of Marseille, shipping companies have the ability to significantly lower their emissions today while developing alternative solutions for tomorrow. EPS is proud to have a series of LNG-powered vessels chartered to CMA CGM, and we are excited that this will be the first of many successful LNG operations in France”.