Belgium-based EXMAR has taken delivery of the 146,000 cubic metre LNG carrier SIMAISA, marking another step in strengthening LNG bunkering infrastructure for the global shipping industry.
The vessel has been secured under an initial seven-year charter agreement with a first-class customer and will shortly enter dry dock for modifications to be converted into a Floating Transshipment Unit (FTU) dedicated to the LNG bunkering market.
Once converted, the FTU will receive large LNG cargoes from conventional LNG carriers and serve as a strategic offshore storage and transfer hub. Specialised LNG bunkering vessels will load LNG from the FTU before delivering it as marine fuel to LNG-powered ships, improving the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of LNG supply chains.
Commenting on the development, Carl-Antoine Saverys, CEO of EXMAR, said the project demonstrates the company’s continued commitment to supporting the adoption of LNG as a cleaner marine fuel.
“The FTU is a smart solution that enables our client to reduce the logistics costs associated with LNG bunkering. By leveraging EXMAR’s nearly 50 years of LNG expertise, we are helping unlock the full potential of LNG as a fuel for the maritime industry. We look forward to deploying more of these assets in the future,” Saverys said.
The deployment of SIMAISA as an FTU is expected to enhance LNG bunkering capabilities by creating an efficient intermediary hub between large-scale LNG carriers and bunkering vessels, supporting the growing global fleet of LNG-fuelled ships and the maritime sector’s transition toward lower-emission fuels.