BHP in LNG vessel first

BHP has welcomed MV Mount Tourmaline to its fleet, the world’s first LNG-fuelled Newcastlemax bulk carrier which will start transporting iron ore between Western Australia and Asia this year.

The Big Australian awarded Eastern Pacific Shipping a five-year contract to build five of the LNG-fuelled Newcastlemax bulk carriers back in 2020.

The LNG contract was awarded to Shell.

The vessel is stationed at Jurong Port in Singapore in preparation to be fuelled with LNG.

This will take place through the FueLNG Bellina - the first LNG bunker vessel in Singapore – which will be operated by a joint venture between Shell Eastern Petroleum and Keppel Offshore & Marine.

Once bunkered, the 209,000 tonne vessel will make for Port Headland to load iron ore.

BHP chief commercial officer Vandita Pant said the vessel delivered significant improvements to its energy efficiency and emissions intensity.

“These LNG-fuelled vessels are expected to reduce GHG emissions intensity by more than 30 per cent on a per voyage basis compared to a conventional fuelled voyage and will contribute towards our 2030 goal to support 40 per cent emissions intensity reduction of BHP-chartered shipping of our products,” Ms Pant said.