November 2, 2023 [Manifold Times]- Korea LNG Bunkering INC’s “Blue Whale” supplied LNG bunker fuel to H-LINE Shipping’s dual fuel bulk carrier “HL-ECO” at the POSCO raw material dock, one of the loading docks at Gwanyang port.

Classification society Korean Register on Wednesday (1 November) said simultaneous operations (SIMOPs) of ship-to-ship LNG bunkering were successfully conducted for a coal-carrying bulk carrier for the first time in South Korea.

Korea LNG Bunkering INC’s bunker tanker Blue Whale supplied LNG bunker fuel to H-LINE Shipping’s dual fuel bulk carrier HL-ECO at the POSCO raw material dock, one of the loading docks at Gwanyang port.

“South Korea boasts world-class shipbuilding capabilities for LNG carriers and bunkering vessels. However, due to safety concerns, ship-to-ship LNG bunkering has never been carried out at the loading docks of its trading ports,” KR said in a statement.

“To address these concerns, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of Korea (MOF) initiated a plan this year to promote LNG bunkering operations. They are supporting R&D projects and LNG bunkering operators by providing port facility fee discounts, with the aim of ensuring the successful implementation of simultaneous LNG bunkering operations.”

KR, together with the Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO), has been actively conducting research and development (R&D) aimed at improving LNG bunkering safety technology, including the development of standard LNG bunkering operating procedures.

A KR official, said: “While LNG has been widely chosen as an alternative fuel, this is a significant step forward in the operation of LNG bunkering. We will continue to do our best to support the safe and successful implementation of simultaneous LNG bunkering operations.”

A MOF official, said: “We plan to expand the demonstration of bunkering with alternative marine fuels such as LNG and methanol at major Korean ports, including the Port of Busan. Our goal is to develop Korea as a primary bunkering hub for alternative marine fuels by significantly easing bunkering safety regulations and taking measures to establish a sustainable alternative marine fuel supply chain under the guidance of specialised organizations such as KR.”

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