Shell Loads First LNG Vessel at Gate Terminal
Shell loads first LNG vessel, using new LNG fuel infrastructure at Gate terminal. The new LNG fuel infrastructure included the construction of a new berth. This new berth has now started operations. The loading of Shell’s chartered LNG vessel, the Coral Methane happened on September 19th.
Background:
- In July 2014, Shell took the Final Investment Decision to buy capacity at the Gas Access to Europe (Gate) terminal, which enabled the investment in new, dedicated liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel infrastructure.
- The new LNG fuel infrastructure included the construction of a new berth. This new berth has now started operations.
- The loading of Shell’s chartered LNG vessel, the Coral Methane happened on September 19, to distribute LNG to Shell’s customer AGA AS, a leading gas company in Northern Europe. The new terminal will provide security of supply of LNG for marine and road transport customers in northwest Europe.
- The new infrastructure is positioned at Gate terminal, where LNG arrives via large chartered carriers from around the world.
- The new infrastructure receives gas in its liquid form from the storage tanks at the terminal by pipeline, and will load smaller quantities in ships for distribution.
- The Coral Methane is a multipurpose LNG carrier developed for Netherlands-based gas transportation company Anthony Veder. It was built by Remontowa at its shipyard in Gdansk, Poland. The multipurpose gas carrier has the capacity of 7,500m³. The vessel entered service in May 2009 under a 15-year charter with Shell’s Norwegian energy company Gasnor AS.
- Since October 2015, Shell has access to import and storage capacity at the Gas Access to Europe (Gate) LNG terminal in the Netherlands, allowing the company to supply LNG to marine and road transport customers in northwest Europe.
- To serve marine customers in the port of Rotterdam, Shell has contracted a specialised LNG bunker vessel* to deliver to LNG-fuelled vessels in northwest Europe. The steel cutting ceremony of the LNG bunker vessel took place in Korea in December 2015. * The project ‘ReaLNG’ is co-financed by the European Union's Connecting Europe Facility
- The Port of Rotterdam is the largest port in Europe and a key location for bunkering operations, giving the Gate terminal an advantaged position to serve customers in the marine and road sector.
- Demand for LNG as a fuel in the shipping industry is increasing, due to emissions reduction requirements. The new fuel will also enable the industry to comply with future regulations.
Lauran Wetemans, Shell’s General Manager Downstream LNG, said: “The first LNG loading of the Coral Methane at Gate’s new berth is great news for our customers. We are ready to supply Shell LNG Fuel to marine customers in northwest Europe, providing fuel options to meet the current and future needs of our marine customers.”
Rolf Brouwer, Managing Director of Gate terminal noted, “Gate terminal and its shareholders Gasunie and Vopak are excited to be sharing this milestone with Shell. Demand for LNG as a fuel in the shipping industry is increasing, and Gate terminal is playing a leading role in providing the infrastructure and operations to load LNG on behalf of Shell on board of vessels for further distribution.”