Shenzhen supports Hong Kong's 1st ship-to-ship LNG bunkering

The"Xin Ao Pu Tuo Hao" liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunker vessel from Shenzhen, loaded with 2,200 tons of LNG fuel, participated in Hong Kong's inaugural ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operation Friday.

The "Xin Ao Pu Tuo Hao" LNG bunker vessel approaches and refuels a dual-fuel container ship with ultra-low-temperature LNG in Hong Kong waters Friday. Photos from WeChat account "昆仑能源"

The operation was conducted by Kunlun Energy Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corp. The company successfully refueled a dual-fuel container ship in Hong Kong waters with the ultra-low-temperature LNG carried on the "Xin Ao Pu Tuo Hao." The bunkering provided the vessel with its full fuel requirements for its upcoming voyage to Istanbul, Türkiye.

This milestone is a significant step for Hong Kong as it strives to develop into a high-quality green maritime fuel bunkering hub.

The operation was made possible through both robust logistical connectivity and smooth integration of institutional mechanisms.

"The bunkering ship and the LNG it carries both come from Shenzhen, and the bunkering takes place in our Hong Kong waters. This model fully reflects the complementary advantages of Hong Kong and other ports in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area," said Mable Chan, secretary for Transport and Logistics of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, at the bunkering ceremony.

Guests watch a live stream of the ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operation during a ceremony on Friday.

The use of low-carbon or even net-zero carbon green marine fuels is a major trend in the international shipping industry, Chan noted, adding that the HKSAR Government seized the opportunity and published the Action Plan on Green Marine Fuel Bunkering in November 2024 in response to the growing market demand for this type of fuel.

Fu Bin, chairman of the board of Kunlun Energy Co. Ltd., stated that this operation marks a significant milestone in building an international shipping hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and promoting the green transition of the local shipping industry. He emphasized that it also aligns with the national "dual carbon" strategy, supporting Hong Kong's ambitions to build a green marine fuel bunkering center. (SD-Xinhua)