Shell has added Gibraltar to its worldwide LNG bunkering network after wining a licence from the British overseas territory’s port operator.
The Hague-based LNG giant submitted an application back in 2019 following the official launch of Gibraltar’s first regasification terminal which allowed the territory to switch from diesel to natural gas for power generation.
Gibraltar’s government announced the bunkering award on January 26 saying that Shell has completed its application formalities and secured the licence.
“We are pleased to have been granted a port operator licence in Gibraltar and look forward to serving customers who wish to bunker with LNG in Gibraltar in the future,” a Shell spokesperson told LNG Prime in an emailed comment.
Shell has developed one of the world’s largest LNG fueling networks of ports and bunkering vessels on key trading routes.
Gibraltar is an important addition to the firm’s portfolio as it is one of the biggest ship bunkering locations in Europe.
Shell says it has already completed more than 250 LNG bunkering operations around the world, including in France, the Netherlands and Norway.
In 2021, Shell will also perform LNG bunkering operations in North America and Singapore.
To remind, the firm recently started using Q-LNG’s first newbuild vessel, the first offshore LNG articulated tug and barge in America, following delivery at the VT Halter Marine yard in Pascagoula. Shell also this week completed the first bunkering operation with the vessel.
On the other side, Singapore’s first LNG bunkering ship is ready to start work following delivery at Keppel Offshore & Marine’s Nantong yard.
FueLNG, a joint venture between Keppel and Shell, will use the 7,500-cbm dual-fuel bunkering vessel to provide regular ship-to-ship LNG bunkering services within the Singapore port.
