Containerships Performs Its First SIMOPS LNG Bunkering Operation On Container Vessel
Containerships Performs Its First SIMOPS LNG Bunkering Operation On Container Vessel
Containerships, which is an expert in Intra-Europe and a subsidiary of the CMA CGM Group, which is a world leader in shipping and logistics, announced that it has performed its first simultaneous operations (SIMOPS) bunkering. The bunkering operation performed allows the concomitant bunkering of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and execution of loading and unloading procedures.
It’s an unparallel achievement which improves Containerships’ operational efficiency and highlights the Group’s leading role in the energy transition of the shipping industry.
On July 4th, 2019, in the Port of Rotterdam Containerships successfully carried out SIMOPS bunkering on its LNG-powered CONTAINERSHIPS NORD vessel. Thus the vessel became the first container carrier which performed SIMOPS in Europe with “ship-to-ship” bunkering.
Containerships worked closely together with Shell, its bunker supplier, with the Port of Rotterdam and with the RST Terminal for ensuring a fluent and safe ship-to-ship bunkering. Approximately 200 tons of LNG was received by the vessel.
This unprecedented achievement will now flag for this procedure to be performed on other LNG-powered vessels, which can include the recently delivered CONTAINERSHIPS POLAR, the sister ship of the CONTAINERSHIPS NORD.
SIMOPS reduced the ship’s stay in the port and avoided operational delays. Therefore, transit times can be reduced, offering CMA CGM Group customers a highly reliable and fast connection between Northern Europe and the Baltics.
The CMA CGM Group reaffirms its commitment towards the protection of the environment with LNG. With LNG, Containerships as part of the CMA CGM Group reinforces its commitment to the protection of the environment and the energy transition of the maritime industry.
Its a real technological breakthrough of using LNG as a fuel, which also yields significant benefits as compared to traditional heavy fuel oil:
- Up to 25% less CO2 emissions,
- 99% less Sulphur emissions,
- 99% less fine particles emissions,
- 85% less nitrogen oxide emissions.
By 2022, 20 LNG-powered vessels, including nine 22,000-TEU ships will be delivered to CMA CGM which are scheduled to be delivered from 2020.
Reference: cmacgm.com
