Vitol has secured three LNG Bunkering Vessels through its shipping company, Vitol International Shipping. The vessels were secured via a seven to ten year time charter agreement with Avenir LNG and an order for two vessels at the CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co shipyard in Nantong, China.
LNG enables shipowners to reduce their environmental footprint at competitive price levels. When combined with bio-LNG blending, it also offers shipowners a long-term solution for compliance with increasingly stringent emission regulations. Pablo Galante Escobar, head of LNG, EMEA gas & power, Vitol says: ‘Shipowners worldwide are looking to reduce their emissions. We are delighted to strengthen our offering to them by investing in LNG/bioLNG bunkering, thereby increasing their options.’
The time charter agreement with Avenir is for one newly built 20,000 m3 LNG bunkering vessel. The time charter will commence at delivery from the shipyard in China in Q4 2026 and will serve a period of seven years with options to extend up to 10 years in total. Vitol also ordered one 12,500 m3 and one 20,000 m3 LNG bunkering vessel at the CIMC SOE shipyard in China. The vessels will be delivered in Q4 of 2026 and Q3 of 2027 respectively.
