Belgium’s Somtrans in for LNG bunker newbuild

Belgian owner Somtrans has been linked to a newbuilding move in the LNG bunker segment.

Brokers have named the Wijnegem-headquartered company behind the most recent order for a 20,000 cu m vessel at China’s Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering (CIMC SOE).

The Somers family-run operator of about 25 inland tanker barges should see the newbuild, which would become the largest in its fleet, delivered by April 2027 at an undisclosed price.

Several newbuilding moves in the growing LNG bunkering segment have taken place at yards in China and South Korea as the number of LNG-powered ships is expected to double by the end of the decade from more than 600 at the end of 2024.

The ships range between 7,800 cu m and 20,000 cu m. The gas shipbuilding specialist of CIMC Enric said the order is its fifth for this vessel type, which includes three from the London-based outfit Avenir LNG and one from Singapore bunker supplier Equatorial Marine.