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 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 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 bunkering ship and the LNG it carries all 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 [GBA],” said Mable Chan, secretary for Transport and Logistics of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, at the bunkering ceremony.

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 GBA 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)