Shell Trading Rotterdam BV (Shell) has received the first inland dual-fuel barge following the time-charter agreement with Plouvier Transport NV (Plouvier Group N.V.), announced in December 2015.
This state-of-the-art barge will predominantly run on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Built by the Dutch shipyard VEKA Shipbuilding, it will support Shell’s growing business in trading and transporting refined oil products in the ARA (Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp) and Rhinetrack (Germany/Switzerland) regions.
Notes to editors:
- In December 2015 Shell Trading Rotterdam BV (Shell) signed a time-charter agreement with Plouvier Transport NV /Intertrans Tankschiffahrt AG for 15 new inland dual-fuel barges, which will predominantly run on LNG.
- The barges will refuel with LNG from infrastructure in Rotterdam and along the Rhine.
- The innovative 110 metre long barges have been designed for improved environmental and safety performance, and optimal cargo carrying capacity in a variety of water conditions. Their main engines, provided by Wärtsilä, will run on 95- 98% LNG fuel with a small proportion of diesel used for ignition.
- We expect there to be a staggered delivery of the subsequent barges between now and mid-2019.