TotalEnergies partners with Ibaizabal to expand LNG bunkering fleet

TotalEnergies is expanding its global LNG bunkering capabilities through a charter agreement with Spanish shipowner Ibaizabal for a new 18,600m³ LNG bunker vessel.

The vessel, currently being built at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding in China, will be delivered by late 2026.

The vessel will strengthen TotalEnergies’ ability to meet the growing demand for LNG as a marine fuel, particularly in key hubs such as the Middle East, where the company is advancing the Marsa LNG project in Oman to serve the shipping sector in the Gulf.

This new vessel, owned by Ibaizabal, is designed to supply LNG to a range of vessel types, including containerships, tankers, cruise ships, and ferries.

The vessel will join TotalEnergies’ existing LNG bunker fleet, which includes Gas Agility (Rotterdam), Gas Vitality (Marseille), and Brassavola (Singapore), extending the company’s global reach in providing LNG services across major maritime routes.

TotalEnergies’ senior vice president of aviation and marine fuels, Louise Tricoire, emphasised the company’s commitment to supporting the decarbonisation of the shipping sector. “With new LNG-fuelled vessels coming on stream at a rapid pace, we are committed to playing our part in responding to the sector’s increasing demand for this fuel,” Ms. Tricoire stated.

Ibaizabal Group CEO Jorge Zickermann noted that this project aligns with the company’s strategy to transition to cleaner fuels while strengthening its partnership with TotalEnergies.

This agreement is closely linked to the Marsa LNG project in Oman, where TotalEnergies and Oman’s OQ are developing the region’s first LNG bunkering hub. LNG production from the Mabrouk North-East field is expected to begin in early 2028 at the Sohar facility, primarily serving the Gulf’s marine fuel market.