The first vessel, chartered from Avenir LNG, is scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2027, followed by a second vessel from Evalend Shipping in the fourth quarter of 2027, according to a statement by ExxonMobil.
ExxonMobil did not provide further details regarding the charter deals or the vessels.
Stolt-Nielsen’s Avenir said in a separate statement that it has signed a time charter party with SeaRiver Maritime, the marine transportation affiliate of ExxonMobil Corporation.
Avenir said the multi-year time charter is for its second newbuild 20,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel.
In 2024, Avenir LNG ordered two 20,000-cbm LNG bunkering and supply vessels at China’s CIMC SOE.
The UK-based firm chartered the first vessel to Vitol for seven years with options to extend up to 10 years in total.
On the other hand, Greece’s Evalend Shipping has LNG bunkering vessels on order at South Korea’s Hyundai Mipo.
These vessels also have a capacity of 20,000 cbm.
ExxonMobil plans to expand LNG bunkering fleet
ExxonMobil said that these vessels will form the backbone of its initial LNG marine supply capability.
While the initial deployment includes two vessels, ExxonMobil plans to expand its LNG bunkering fleet over time to support growing customer demand.
ExxonMobil said this phased approach “reflects the company’s long-term efforts to enable lower GHG emission marine fuels compared with conventional marine fuels at scale.”
The LNG bunkering initiative is part of ExxonMobil’s broader plans to pursue up to $30 billion in lower-emission solutions between 2025 and 2030, with about 65 percent directed toward reducing the emissions of other companies, the company said.
