The bunker vessel supplies MSC DARIA with bonded LNG fuel at Songyu Terminal. [Photo/China Daily]
Xiamen recently completed its first ship-to-ship bunkering of bonded liquefied natural gas (LNG) for an international vessel. This operation marks Fujian province's first bonded LNG supply service for ships, positioning Xiamen among the handful of cities in China equipped to provide bonded LNG bunkering services.
In recent years, Xiamen has vigorously promoted the green transformation and upgrading of its port, gradually improving green infrastructure such as shore power supply. Following the previous success in bonded biofuel oil bunkering, the implementation of this bonded LNG bunkering business further fills the gap in clean fuel supply services.
This development makes the port's green service system more comprehensive, creating a multitiered clean energy supply capability that encompasses biofuel oil and LNG.
The bonded fuel supply services for international vessels serve as a key indicator of a port's level of internationalization and supporting services. At present, only cities such as Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Xiamen conduct bonded LNG refueling operations in China.
Now, vessels can complete bonded LNG refueling directly at Xiamen Port and enjoy the benefits of bonded policies. Compared to diverting to neighboring ports, this saves at least one to two days of sailing time, which is expected to attract more international vessels to Xiamen Port.
Next, the Xiamen Free Trade Zone will continue to promote the normalization and scaling up of bonded LNG bunkering operations.