The product tanker was on charter to the Finnish fuel supply company NEOT (North European Oil Trade). During the operation, 150 tonnes of LNG were transferred from ‘Kairos’ to ‘Ternsund’ at the Swedish port’s oil terminal.
Åsa Boström, Port of Södertälje controller, stated, “The first LNG bunker operation was a huge success and the co-operation between the terminal and port operators, the crews on board of the LNG bunker vessel and the receiving vessel went very well. Establishing alternative fuels in the port fits perfectly well into our overall strategy to minimise environmental impact and emissions. Supporting the development of solutions, which benefit both the business and the environment, is an investment into the future of our port.”
Not only was it the first LNG bunker operation in the port of Södertälje, but also the first one undertaken in the Baltic while cargo operations to discharge the tanker were underway (SIMOPS).
Sonja Neßhöver, Nauticor’s Director LNG Portfolio, highlighted the importance of this operation, “The first SIMOPS LNG bunker operation at an oil terminal in the Baltic Sea marks an important milestone for the development of the LNG supply infrastructure. We are happy to have been chosen by NEOT as partner for this operation and see a profound basis for future operations after such a successful first run.”
The bunker operation was the first under a contract for LNG supply, which was signed by Nauticor, a supplier of LNG as marine fuel, and NEOT, an independent fuel supply company in the Baltic region. The agreement covers the supply of LNG by ship to NEOT’s fleet of time-chartered product tankers running on the environmentally friendly fuel.
According to Satu Mattila, NEOT’s Head of Planning, Shipping and Operations, “Our vision is to become the most innovative and cost-efficient fuel solutions supply company. We are continuously seeking ways to reduce the environmental impact of our operations, including shipping. LNG is an established fuel solution with lower environmental impact that has been used in our shipping operations for years. We are continuously developing more flexible sourcing options for LNG together with our partners, and the first LNG bunkering in Södertälje is again another great step forward.”