Rotterdam hosts world's largest LNG bunker operation

London — The largest ever LNG bunker operation was completed on Nov. 13 at the Port of Rotterdam for the CMA CGM Jacques Saade, with Total's LNG bunker vessel the Gas Agility supplying the fuel, the French energy major said Nov. 16.

Roughly 17,300 cu m of LNG was supplied to the 23,000 TEU containership, which is currently the world's largest LNG fueled containership.

The operation was carried out via ship-to-ship transfer while the CMA CGM Jaques Saade carried out simultaneous operations and took roughly 24 hours to complete.

According to Total, the carbon footprint of the volume delivered was reduced with the introduction of biomethane, produced in the Schipol area, which made up roughly 13% of the total quantity delivered via the Guarantee of Origin, or GO, certificates mechanism.

The operation "marks the shipping industry's first commercial use of biomethane on this scale. Such introduction reflects Total's ambition to get to Net Zero by 2050 and our commitment to help reduce the carbon intensity of the energy products used by our customers," said Jérôme Leprince-Ringuet, vice president of marine fuels at Total.

In a statement on Nov. 12, the Port of Rotterdam said a total of nine LNG bunker vessels now operate in the Rotterdam area, of which three are working there on a permanent basis.

The CMA CGM Jaques Saade was delivered in Q3 of this year having been constructed in Shanghai and began its maiden voyage to Europe from Asia in September.