Polish built PSV Siem Thiima bunkered with LNG in Australia

On 20 February 2017, EVOL LNG revealed that the first Australian commercial LNG bunkering had been completed in WA’s north‐west on 23 January 2017. That day, under an agreement with Woodside, EVOL LNG successfully refuelled the platform supply vessel, Siem Thiima at King Bay Supply Base near Dampier.

The PSV built at Remontowa Shipbuiding in Gdansk, Poland for Norwegian company Siem Offshore Australia Pty Ltd is the first LNG‐fuelled platform supply vessel in Australia.

According to the EVOL LNG company, it’s just the beginning.

– Our decision to enter the LNG bunkering market is part of a long‐term strategy that recognises environmental and economic sustainability of LNG as a transport fuel – said Nick Rea, Business Manager at EVOL LNG, an industry leader in the safe handling of LNG in the Australian power generation, industrial and transportation markets.

– It also recognises that the LNG marine fuel market is still in development, so the fact EVOL has over 15 years’ experience in distributing LNG means we saw an opportunity to provide a suite of services that perhaps others can’t – he added.

Mr Rea emphasizes, that EVOL can safely manage the bunkering process plus provide key services such as training in safe handling of LNG, enabling its customers to confidently adopt LNG as a marine fuel.

– With growing demand for lower emission fuels over the past decade, we’ve seen the number of LNG‐fuelled ships in operation worldwide increase steadily from a handful to more than 75, with an additional 80 expected to be built in the next three years – he stressed.

According to data obtained from SEA Europe and DNV GL, as of the 1st quarter of 2016, there were 77 LNG-powered ships in operation worldwide. As many as 11 of them have been entirely built (as turn-key projects) at a Polish yard Remontowa Shipbuilding SA, ten car-passenger vessels and one PSV named Siem Pride delivered to Siem Offshore in 2015.

Since then, the Remontowa Shipbuilding yard has contributed to the development of the world LNG fleet delivering further three vessels so far, two car passenger ferries built for BC Ferries, the first LNG-fuelled ferries in Canada and the Siem Thiima mentioned above.

It’s worth recalling that International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has introduced emission control areas in Europe and North America. In addition, China has also introduced emission control areas around its three major ports.

– Interest in LNG as a marine fuel is growing, especially since the IMO announced that it would introduce a global marine fuel sulphur limit of 0.5 per cent from 2020 – Chris Rea emphasizes and adds, that as emission reduction efforts continue to become more important globally, including in Australia, the adoption of LNG as a low emission marine fuel is expected to increase accordingly.

– It’s certainly an offering we’d like to expand, particularly as truck‐to‐ship LNG bunkering can be achieved relatively inexpensively with existing logistics assets – he stated.

EVOL LNG designed and fabricated a bunkering system for Woodside that is fully compliant with the comprehensive international LNG bunkering standard, ISO 18683:2015.

LNG vaporises and leaves no residue in the event of a spill, minimising adverse impact on marine life or waterways. LNG is a cleaner alternative to marine diesel, emitting 25 per cent less carbon dioxide, less NOx and almost zero SOx.

GL, rel (EVOL)