Norway-based Kanfer is a small-scale LNG sea transportation and LNG bunkering company part-owned by Atlantic Gulf & Pacific (AG&P). It expects to take deliver of the vessels by the second half of 2023.
The pair of LNG bunker and distribution vessels will have a 6,000 cu m tank capacity with a mono-tank design. The vessel’s design is the result of a partnership with CGR Arctic Marine, which designed and developed a unique LNG bunkering vessel and gas delivery system that together reduce the overall cost of LNG bunkering infrastructure.
“Taizhou has deep experience in building small-scale LNG carriers and Kanfer’s technological partner, CGR Arctic Marine AS, has worked closely for years with the yard. This relationship and their competitiveness have made Taizhou an ideal choice for construction of Kanfer’s 6,000 cbm capacity small-scale vessels,” said Kanfer Shipping Founder and CEO Stig Hagen.
The vessels feature pure gas electric power production combined with hybrid battery technology, Azipull thrusters and bow thruster combined with joystick operation, and a 500 cu m marine diesel oil cargo tank. The features combine to reduce opex, said Kanfer, which in turn reduces day rates to customers.
Kanfer plans to build a fleet of small- and medium-scale LNG distribution and bunkering ships to capitalise on the shipping industry’s move to more environmentally friendly propulsion.
“We see a rapidly expanding market for LNG bunker vessels as the world maritime industry continues to pivot towards its decarbonisation goals through LNG. The current very modest orderbook for new LNG bunkering vessels makes our decision well-timed, especially now that equivalent, new-built vessels to be delivered in 2022 and 2023 have already been chartered out,” said Hagen.
“The need for the emergence of new LNG bunkering centres will indeed be critical as the trading pattern for gas-driven vessels will be global and very diversified. The existing hubs will also need to expand to cater for growing demand and for the requirement of different sizes of bunkering and distribution ships that Kanfer is in a position to build,” he added.
