The first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operation was successfully performed in the Port of Klaipeda. LNG tanker Avenir Aspiration bunkered 326 cubic meters of liquified natural gas to a 170-meter length CMA CGM container vessel Containerships Aurora on April 9. This marks a significant milestone for maritime services in the major Lithuanian transport hub.
“This successful LNG bunkering operation is a milestone for Klaipeda Port and a significant leap forward in diversifying and improving the quality of services port provides to maritime operators. The operation leverages our strategic advantages, including the existing infrastructure of the LNG floating storage and regasification terminal Independence, to offer cleaner, more sustainable bunkering solutions. Klaipeda Port is now firmly on the map as a convenient and reliable location for LNG bunkering in the region”, says Vladas Motiejunas, Harbourmaster.
CMA CGM operates 3 LNG-powered vessels in the Baltic Sea, with regular calls at the Port of Klaipeda. There are plans to expand the LNG-powered vessel fleet to 6 in the near future.
“The possibility to bunker LNG container vessels in the Port of Klaipeda is a strong sign that the port infrastructure is adapting in line with carbon zero targets in shipping. CMA CGM plans to have Klaipeda Port as a regular spot for LNG vessel bunkering”, says Saulius Kazakevicius, General Manager at CMA CGM Lithuania.
LNG significantly reduces emissions of sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter, contributing to cleaner air and a healthier environment. This operation demonstrates a shared commitment to sustainability and innovation in the shipping industry. Klaipeda Port has the ambition to offer a wider variety of alternative green fuels in the future, including on-site production and bunkering of green hydrogen starting in early 2026.
Avenir LNG is a fully integrated small-scale LNG supplier. Avenir currently operates the second largest small-scale LNG fleet with 5 LNG transport and bunker vessels and provides LNG bunkering services globally. The company is the leading LNG & bio-LNG supplier In the Baltic Sea and secures the energy supply for a range of vessels and terminals in the area, including Sweden, Lithuania and Finland. In addition to the fleet of vessels, Avenir is the owner of a 10,000 cbm LNG import and storage terminal in the Port of Oristano, Sardinia.
Klaipeda Port is the major transport hub in Lithuania, serving 6.000 ships per year in the 33 specialised terminals. The port handles containers, ro-ro, LNG, dry bulk, liquid bulk, general, and project cargoes, and half a million passengers per year.