Wärtsilä Gas Solutions has been selected to design and supply Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering (CIMC SOE) with the LNG cargo containment system for an 8,000 cbm LNG bunker barge. The newbuilding is the first LNG bunker barge to be ordered by Fratelli Cosulich s.r.l.
The order for the new bunker vessel at CIMC SOE shipyard was announced on 10 May. The vessel is slated for delivery in 2023, when it will be operated by Fratelli Cosulich LNG S.r.l. The vessel is intended to serve customers in the Mediterranean region, a Fratelli Cosulich spokeswoman confirmed.
The 5,300 dwt vessel will have a bunkering capacity of over 8,000cbm of LNG, as well as 500cbm of MGO. The Fratelli Cosulich Group announced that the total investment in the construction of the vessel was around US$45 million.
The project is also applying for a EUR4.5 million grant from the European Union's Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), contributing to the decarbonisation of maritime transport by deploying LNG bunkering solutions in the Mediterranean Sea.
The scope of the contract with Wärtsilä Gas Solutions also includes a custody transfer system, as well as with a Boil-Off Gas reliquefaction system. Fratelli Cosulich noted that this would reduce LNG load losses, while mitigating potential environmental impacts.
The vessel will be propelled by azimuth type propulsors, while the design also features double bow thrusters, to ensure high manoeuvrability in port areas.
