Next generation offshore installation vessel ‘Orion’ fuelled for the first time with LNG

In only the second ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operation to take place in Germany, the world’s largest LNG bunker vessel ‘Kairos’, operated by Nauticor, has supplied DEME’s next generation offshore installation vessel ‘Orion’. For the Port of Rostock, this ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operation is a premiere.

‘Orion’ is currently at the Liebherr construction yard in the Port of Rostock, where it is being outfitted with a 5,000-tonne crane. DEME leads the industry with the adoption of LNG, with the new offshore installation vessel being the fifth dual fuel addition to the fleet, following three trailing suction hopper dredgers (‘Minerva’, ‘Scheldt River’ and ‘Bonny River’) and a cable laying vessel (‘Living Stone’). 

The ship-to-ship bunkering of LNG is another milestone in the construction of this game-changing vessel, which features a unique combination of exceptionally high transport and load capacity, impressive lifting heights and green technology. With its multi-year fleet investment programme DEME aims to make continuous improvements in terms of productivity and environmental performance.

“Our recent fleet additions are unique in their market segments as the first vessels in our industry to run on LNG. We want to make sure our fleet is future-proof and exceeds the current environmental regulations. Therefore, most of our new vessels are equipped with dual fuel engines, which are capable of running on LNG. Many of them are also already prepared for the new, carbon neutral fuels of the future and we will continue to scale up our actions to have the most energy efficient fleet in the industry,” says Bart Verboomen, Head of DEME’s Technical Department.

Jan Schubert, Senior Manager Sales & Business Development at Nauticor was extremely satisfied with the outcome of the bunkering operation and commented: “After conducting the first ship-to-ship LNG transfer in Germany only a few weeks ago in Brunsbüttel for DEME’s ‘Scheldt River’ we are happy to also extend our cooperation for the latest vessel joining the DEME fleet, ‘Orion’. The successful cooperation between the crew on board of ‘Orion’, the Nauticor team and the port authorities in Rostock, showed again how important it is to have experienced partners from all fields being involved from the beginning. Additionally, this is the first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operation in the Port of Rostock and highlights that the availability of LNG is now secured in another important port in Northwest Europe, thereby further reducing the hurdles for companies to decide in favour of alternative fuels and ultimately, making shipping more sustainable.”

For Jens A. Scharner, Managing Director of Rostock Port GmbH, the  first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operation in the Port of Rostock is an important milestone: “This operation strengthens the LNG cluster in Rostock significantly and is an essential extension of the services offered by the port. The continuous development from the LNG bunkering operations by truck during the last years towards the first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operation shows the strong operational performance of our team. We are grateful for the trust DEME and Nauticor have placed in us. Environmentally friendly fuels, such as LNG, and a shipping industry driven by sustainability will shape our port in the long-run.”     

DEME is a world leader in the highly specialised fields of dredging, marine engineering and environmental remediation. The company can build on more than 140 years of know-how and experience and has fostered a pioneering approach throughout its history, being a front runner in innovation and new technologies.

DEME’s vision is to work towards a sustainable future by offering solutions for global challenges: a rising sea level, a growing population, reduction of CO2 emissions, polluted rivers and soils and the scarcity of natural resources. Although DEME’s activities originated with the core dredging business, the portfolio diversified substantially over the decades, including dredging and land reclamation, solutions for the offshore energy market, infra marine solutions and environmental solutions.

While the company’s roots are in Belgium, DEME has built a strong presence in all of the world’s seas and continents, operating in more than 90 countries worldwide. DEME can rely on 5,200 highly skilled professionals across the globe. With a versatile and modern fleet of over 100 vessels, backed by a broad range of auxiliary equipment, the company can provide solutions for even the most complex projects.

DEME achieved a turnover of 2.65 billion euros in 2018.