JAXPORT Completes the First US LNG Bunkering of a Non-US Ship

The first international vessel to furn LNG fueled took place recently at Jacksonville — Fure Ven bunkering LNG in Jacksonville - photo courtesy of JAXPORT

As ports around the world compete to build their LNG bunkering capabilities, the United States recently marked a key milestone as part of the shipping industry’s increasing use of the LNG. The first LNG refueling of an internationally-flagged ship took place in the Port of Jacksonville, Florida. The effort required the coordination of several partners, but demonstrates the growing capabilities to supply LNG which is widely viewed as a next-generation fuel source for the maritime industry.

The Fure Ven, an 18,000 DWT dual-fueled vessel owned and operated by Furetank of Donsö, Sweden, an operator of product and chemical tankers, transited the St. Johns River on September 1, calling at JAXPORT’s Talleyrand Marine Terminal, which serves Crowley Maritime Corporation. The Fure Ven is one of Furetank’s V-Series, a new generation of product and chemical tankers introduced in 2018.

At the terminal, 225 metric tons of LNG was transferred to the vessel from Eagle LNG Partners on-site storage facility. The bunkering process required less than seven hours to complete. The product tanker loaded with a diesel fuel cargo departed later that day bound for Arendal, Norway.

LNG bunkering taking place aboard the Swedish tanker in Jacksonville - photo courtesy of JAXPORT

While it seems like a simple enough process, it became the first non-U.S. flagged vessel to bunker LNG in the United States. Eagle LNG became the first supplier to complete the delivery and It was also the first time the GAC Group brokered a deal to supply LNG as a marine fuel.

“We note with pleasure that LNG bunkering is becoming available in more and more places, not least the U.S., and we are confident that investing in the V-series particularly contributes to a cleaner environment worldwide,” said Lars Höglund, CEO of Furetank.

According to all of the parties involved, this milestone is the latest tangible demonstration of LNG as a safe and reliable fuel solution. They hope it builds confidence in the case for LNG to help the shipping industry meet environmental regulations and paves the way for more internationally trading vessels to bunker at Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT).

“The team at Eagle LNG is proud to have partnered with Furetank and GAC, along with numerous stakeholders including JAXPORT, Crowley Maritime and the U.S. Coast Guard, to safely accomplish this first-ever LNG bunkering of a foreign-flagged tanker in the United States,” said Sean Lalani, President of Eagle LNG. “It is only fitting that this first bunkering in the United States happened in Jacksonville where JAXPORT, local officials, and the community have embraced the shipping industry’s transition to the more sustainable, affordable LNG.”

Ports around the world have been working to build their LNG facilities to support and attract the increasing number of ships being built to operating on the LNG. Port Canaveral, Florida, located to the south of Jacksonville, was the first port in the United States to commit to serving the first of the LNG-powered cruise ship to enter service in the US. Carnival Cruise Line announced that it will deploy its new cruise ship the Mardi Gras to Port Canaveral early in 2021, making it the first LNG-powered cruise ship operating North America and Port Canaveral one of only a few ports in the world to homeport an LNG-powered cruise ship.

Other ports across the United States are also expected to enhance their LNG bunkering capabilities to serve the growing number of ships expected to operate on LNG.