A unit of the Hague-based LNG giant Shell has signed a deal with Russia’ Sovcomflot to supply liquefied natural gas to the first Aframax crude oil tankers in the world to be powered by the chilled fuel.
Under the deal, Shell Western LNG B.V. will refuel the vessels from a specialised LNG bunker vessel that will load at the Dutch Gate terminal located in the port of Rotterdam, and a second supply point in the Baltics, according to a statement by Shell.
Hyundai Heavy Industries’ unit, Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries, has recently been contracted to build the LNG-fueled aframax tankers for Sovcomflot.
The order for the four vessels is valued at $240 million.
The four Aframax tankers will operate in the Baltic Sea and Northern Europe transporting crude oil and petroleum products.
The ice-classed, dual-fuelled tankers are scheduled to come into operation beginning in the third quarter of 2018 and will be among the first LNG-fuelled vessels with variable and flexible routes.