LNG-fueled cement carrier, Ireland, became the first vessel to bunker liquefied natural gas in the Spanish port of Bilbao.
The truck-to-ship bunkering operation was carried out at the end of last month in cooperation between the Basque Energy Entity (EVE), Bahía Bizkaia Gas (BBG) and the Port Authority of Bilbao.
According to the statement by the port of Bilbao, the operation lasted five hours, with the fuel being supplied by Molgas Energía, the first company authorized by the port of Bilbao to carry out this type of commercial LNG supply service.
The 110 meters long Ireland is a cement tanker built by the Dutch shipbuilder Ferus Smit for JT cement, a joint venture between Erik Thun and KG Jebsen Cement from Norway.
According to Ferus Smit, Ireland and its sister vessel Greenland are the first ever dry cargo vessels with an LNG fuelled propulsion system and LNG tanks integrated inside the hull.