Singapore to Build First Dual-Fuel Bunker Tanker

Keppel Offshore & Marine through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Keppel Singmarine, has secured a contract with Mitsui to build Singapore's first dual-fuel bunker tanker, to be owned and operated by Sinanju Tankers Holdings, it said April 9.

The 7,990 ton dual-fuel bunker tanker will be the first LNG-fuelled bunkering vessel for Singapore and for Sinanju. Built to the requirements of classification society, Bureau Veritas, the bunker tanker will deliver marine fuels to ocean-going vessels within local port limits. The delivery is scheduled for H2 2019. Sinanju will receive co-funding of up to S$2bn ($1.5bn) to build the vessel as one of the recipients of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) LNG bunkering pilot programme.

Keppel's managing director for gas & specialised vessels, Abu Bakar, said: “The dual-fuel bunker tanker will be the third vessel to be built by Keppel Singmarine under the MPA LBPP and the seventh dual-fuel vessel built by Keppel O&M, extending our track record in LNG-fuelled vessels. With solutions across the LNG value chain, Keppel O&M is in a strong position to capture opportunities as the industry adopts greener solutions."

As part of the contract, Sinanju and Mitsui have an option to order a second similar tanker, which is to be exercised within six months of the effective date of the first contract.

"Sinanju aims to kick start a green initiative for bunker tankers operating in Singapore; for our vessels to emit less air pollutants while boosting the local use of LNG as a bunker fuel. We will be in good stead when embarking in ship-to-ship LNG bunkering as our next milestone," said the CEO of Sinanju Tankers Holdings, Ju Kai Meng.