The US re-gasification expert, VGS Group, is developing a new floating import LNG terminal in the Bay of Bengal in India. The Kakinada LNG terminal will deal with handling, storing and re-gasification of LNG. It will support a floating storage unit (FSU) and floating re-gasification unit (FRU), which will be semi permanently moored to the terminal plus an LNG carrier when it calls to make deliveries.
Gaurav Tiwari, president, VGS Group, said: “Besides having the first mover advantage for LNG importation on India’s east coast, VGS Group and our other industry partners has brought a game changing project to the LNG scene.”
Mr Tiwari pointed out that the unique configuration of the terminal allows for it to be economically and rapidly scaled up from 4.0mtpa to over 8.0mtpa in one or more stages.
The project is composed of two development phases. Its initial phase has an FSU with a storage capacity of 174,000 m3 and the second phase is 266,000 m3.
Initially the terminal will have capacity ranging from 75,000 m3 to 155,000 m3. The FRU, with approximate dimensions of 100 x 47 m, will process LNG into natural gas at an operating capacity ranging from 500 MMscfd to a peak of 1,000 MMscfd in Phase 1.
China based Wison Offshore & Marine Ltd is the project’s vessel builder collaborating with Hamworthy Wärtsilä, which is providing the re‐gas technology. The feasibility study report was completed by Moffatt & Nichol.
APM Terminals Bahrain opens Hanjin/NYK service
The new service will directly connect international ports such as Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, Los Angeles and Shanghai before arriving in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The agreement was signed by APM Terminals Bahrain with the Nippon Yusan Kysha company and Hanjin Shipping – a Korean company in Singapore.
Commenting on the new shipping service, Simon Brebner, Chief Commercial Officer at APM Terminals Bahrain, said:
“The excellent cooperation and support we have had from the Ports & Maritime Affairs, under the leadership of His Excellency, Minister of Transportation, has enabled us to sign this significant agreement for Bahrain. We are pleased to welcome this new direct service which will now open direct lines for shipping companies in the Kingdom and significantly boost trans-shipment activities thereby contributing to the Kingdom’s economy.”
“Furthermore, the direct call into Bahrain from two of the top ten Global Carriers, Hanjin (South Korea) and NYK (Japan) is a reflection of Bahrain’s increasing capabilities to provide trans-shipment opportunities to and from the Upper Gulf and we look forward to welcoming and delivering value to this service on a regular basis.”
This new service will arrive in Bahrain every Monday evening and will open up many opportunities for shippers and carriers alike. Bahrain’s Free Trade Agreement with the US will complement the direct service to the West Coast, and ensure that the new shipping route provides opportunities for further trade growth between the two countries.
Furthermore, the service will increase the Kingdom’s access to new and competitive markets globally and will sit alongside the already well-established APL WAX (West Asia Express) service that has been calling directly from Asia to Bahrain since 2010.
Strategically located, APM Terminals Bahrain has seen tremendous success in the past years, serving as a trans-shipment hub in the region to meet the growing requirements of the Northern Gulf markets.
The arrival of the new direct shipping service is a testament of APM Terminals Bahrain being the preferred port for regional and international shipping lines.
