China conducts milestone LNG STS bunkering operation

The milestone ship-to-ship LNG fuel transfer took place between 320,500-dwt Maran Dione and 2015-built, 30,000-m³ Hai Yang Shi You 301 at the anchorage of Guangzhou Port.

The ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of 6,500 m³ of bonded LNG took place during an 8.5-hour operation.

According to China Offshore Oil Corp marketing manager Ye Di, the amount of LNG fuel transferred is sufficient for more than 10,000 nautical miles and it was the first time such an operation had been conducted at the port.

Maran Tankers Management operations director Georgios Asteros told the Chinese CCTV News Agency the operation was conducted professionally and safely.

Maran Dione is a state-of-the-art dual-fuel VLCC built by South Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries, and forms part of a four-VLCC order, worth ₩458.7Bn (US$415M) agreed in February 2021.

The Lloyd’s Register-class vessel has a cargo capacity of 320,500 dwt and uses the MAN ES 7G80 ME-GI Tier III main engine, modern diesel generators, dual-fuel auxiliary boilers, hydrodynamic hull and propeller design, and shaft generators.

Maran claims Maran Dione, like its sister ships Antonis I Angelicoussis, Maria A Angelicoussis and Maran Danae, emits up to 50% less carbon dioxide than an equivalent 2008-built VLCC.

Hai Yang Shi You 301, at 185 m long and 28 m wide, is a Chinese developed vessel.