Dutch Marine Fuels Supplier Titan and MOL Complete First Bio-LNG and LNG Bunkering Operation

Dutch marine fuels supplier Titan and Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) have successfully completed the first bio-LNG and LNG bunkering operation under a new multi-delivery contract for MOL’s vehicle carrier fleet.

The milestone bunkering operation took place on March 16 at the Port of Zeebrugge’s International Car Operators (ICO) terminal in Belgium.

Titan utilized its chartered LNG bunkering vessel, Alice Cosulish, to supply 500 tons of bio-LNG and 400 tons of conventional LNG to MOL’s 2024-built car carrier, Celeste Ace.

Notably, the ISCC-EU-certified mass-balanced bio-LNG was produced from waste and residue, resulting in a significant reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to traditional marine diesel on a well-to-wake basis.

This operation signifies the commencement of multiple bio-LNG deliveries to MOL as part of the newly established contract with Titan. Presently, MOL operates 5 LNG-fueled vehicle carriers, with 6 additional vessels set to be delivered by mid-2025.

Nicolas Ganas, Senior Trader and Business Development Manager at Titan, commended MOL’s dedication to LNG and bio-LNG as marine fuels, emphasizing the joint effort towards cleaner shipping. Ganas expressed optimism about the strengthened partnership with MOL in the region and the consistent supply of lower-carbon fuel solutions to their vessels.

Yoshikazu Urushitani, Marine Fuel GX Division General Manager at MOL, shared insights into the company’s forward-looking strategy, which includes exploring the use of ammonia and hydrogen fuels alongside the continued adoption of LNG-fueled vessels. Urushitani highlighted MOL’s commitment to being early adopters of bio-LNG and synthetic LNG, aiming to lead the industry in transitioning to clean alternative fuels. The ultimate goal is to achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2050 through the utilization of clean fuels.