SHIPPING line CMA CGM and TotalEnergies have launched Marseilles’ inaugural ship-to-containership liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering operation in the Port of Marseille Fos, Southern France.
CMA CGM BALI, a 15,000 TEU LNG-powered containership is deployed on the MEX 1 service, connecting Asia and South Europe. She is being refuelled by TotalEnergies’ Gas Vitality, the first LNG bunker vessel based in France, with around 6000m3 of LNG, by means of a ship to ship transfer alongside the Eurofos container terminal, while the containership carried out cargo operations simultaneously.
The Gas Vitality is TotalEnergies’ second chartered LNG bunker vessel and owned by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines.
CMA CGM has chosen TotalEnergies as part of a major industrial partnership to supply the company with gas in Rotterdam, Singapore and Marseille, the first LNG bunkering hub in France for shipping and CMA CGM’s third.
By the end of 2024, the CMA CGM Group will have a fleet of 44 LNG-powered vessels, “emethane ready” of various sizes and 24 are already in service. The engines deployed on these vessels already have the technical capability of using bio-methane (already in use) and emethane, a carbon-neutral fuel, making them simultaneously an immediate and a long-term solution to the challenge of decarbonization.
An LNG-powered vessel emits up to 23% less greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fuel-powered systems.
Prior to this milestone bunkering operation, the Gas Vitality was loaded with LNG at Elengy’s Fos Cavaou LNG terminal on December 28, 2021, which also marks the terminal’s first loading of a small-scale LNG carrier.
Christine Cabau, executive vice president operations and assets of the CMA CGM Group said, “This LNG bunkering operation is an important milestone for our group, in many ways. It sets France and Marseille maritime and port cluster on the frontline for the decarbonisation of shipping.
“It enhances LNG solutions as the first step of a broader industrial strategy that will take us to alternative fuels such as biomethane and e-methane.”
Jérôme Leprince-Ringuet, vice-president marine fuels at TotalEnergies said, “This landmark operation also demonstrates our continued support to the growing role of LNG in shipping’s energy transition.
“In line with TotalEnergies’ climate ambition, we will continue to work hand-in-hand with our industry partners to develop and scale up new, lower-carbon and ultimately, zero-carbon fuel solutions for shipping.”
