TotalEnergies has finalized a charter agreement with Spanish shipowner Ibaizabal for a new Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) bunker vessel with a capacity of 18,600 m³. This addition will bolster the company’s global presence in key bunkering hubs, specifically in Oman, where TotalEnergies is advancing the Marsa LNG project aimed at supplying LNG to the shipping sector in the Gulf.
The Ibaizabal-owned vessel will provide LNG to various types of vessels, including containerships, tankers, large cruise ships, and ferries, at TotalEnergies’ LNG bunkering hubs, adhering to stringent technical and environmental standards.
As a marine fuel, LNG serves as an immediately available transition fuel that can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the shipping industry by approximately 20%. It also enhances air quality by decreasing nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions by up to 85%, while nearly eliminating sulfur oxides (SOx) and fine particulate matter by 99%. These improvements are particularly significant when ships are docked, contributing to better living conditions for residents in port cities and coastal communities.
The new vessel is currently under construction at Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding in China and is expected to be delivered by the end of 2026. It will join TotalEnergies’ existing fleet of three LNG bunker vessels: the Gas Agility in the Port of Rotterdam, the Gas Vitality in the Port of Marseille, and the Brassavola in the Port of Singapore.
Louise Tricoire, Senior Vice President of Aviation and Marine Fuels at TotalEnergies, expressed pride in the agreement with Ibaizabal, stating, “This reinforces our position as a key player in LNG bunkering. With new LNG-fueled vessels coming online rapidly, we are dedicated to meeting the sector’s growing demand for this fuel, which can aid global shipping in achieving its decarbonization goals.”
Jorge Zickermann, CEO of Ibaizabal Group, remarked, “Ibaizabal is honored to be selected for this project as it aligns with our strategy to decarbonize the maritime industry in partnership with a leading LNG company, while further strengthening our long-standing relationship with TotalEnergies.”
LNG’s Role in Shipping’s Energy Transition
As a marine fuel, LNG can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by around 20% compared to traditional marine fuels, with even greater reductions possible using bio or synthetic LNG. Thus, marine LNG offers a sustainable, cost-effective, and readily available solution for lowering emissions in the shipping industry. TotalEnergies has made significant investments in LNG bunkering infrastructure to support its shipping clients’ transition to LNG as a marine fuel.
TotalEnergies: A Leader in LNG
TotalEnergies ranks as the world’s third-largest LNG player, boasting a global portfolio of 44 million tons per year (Mt/y) in 2023, thanks to its interests in liquefaction plants across all regions. The company holds an integrated position throughout the LNG value chain, including production, transportation, access to over 20 Mt/y of regasification capacity in Europe, trading, and LNG bunkering. TotalEnergies aims to increase the proportion of natural gas in its sales mix to nearly 50% by 2030, striving to cut carbon emissions, eliminate methane emissions linked to the gas value chain, and collaborate with local partners to facilitate the transition from coal to natural gas.
