Bureau Veritas (BV) is supporting the adoption of LNG in the world’s first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operation between two independent ocean-going vessels, both classed by BV.

On September 3, Terntank Rederi’s M/T Ternsund bunkered LNG from Coral Energy, a Dutch small scale LNG vessel owned by Antony Veder and chartered by Skangas. The operation was carried out at the entrance to the port of Gothenburg. 

The Ternsund is the world’s first LNG-fuelled newbuilding oil and chemical tanker. It was built under BV class at Avic Dingheng, China and was delivered to Terntank in June.

Coral Energy, which has a capacity of 15,600 m3, is also built to BV class and was delivered in 2013.

Jean-François Segretain, Technical Director, Marine & Offshore Division, Bureau Veritas, said: “The ship-to-ship bunkering between Ternsund and Coral Energy represents a significant milestone in the adoption of LNG as marine fuel. Bureau Veritas has facilitated this major step through our dedicated rules and active participation in development of new international guidelines that encourage the adoption of clean fuel and enhance designs for new clean vessels. This first LNG ship-to-ship bunkering operation will soon be followed by other LNG ocean-going bunker vessels classed by Bureau Veritas. These include ENGIE bunker vessels operating from Zeebrugge, and a Sirius Veder Gas AB new bunker vessel under construction at Dutch shipyard Royal Bodewes.”