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Shell has finalized a time charter agreement with a joint venture between Victrol NV and CFT to charter an LNG bunker barge with a capacity to carry 3,000 cubic metres (cbm) of LNG fuel. Operating out of Rotterdam, the move is designed to provide additional flexibility to bunker a range of customers, including vessels operating on Europe's inland waterways.

The news follows the recent arrival of Shell's LNG bunker vessel Cardissa in Rotterdam on Thursday evening.

Owned by Shell Western LNG B.V. and co-financed by the European Union's Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), the Cardissa will be used to perform deliveries to customers in northwest Europe, sourcing product from the Gas Access to Europe (Gate) terminal in Rotterdam. It is able to transport up to 6,500 cbm of LNG.

"LNG as a marine fuel has an important role to play in the energy mix of the future," said Steve Hill, Executive Vice President of Shell Energy. "With these bunker vessels and the Gate terminal, we are demonstrating that Shell is dedicated to building a robust and reliable supply chain for its clients. With stricter rules for emissions on the horizon, we will continue to work with our customers and partners on cleaner energy solutions."

Bunker Index reported in June that PitPoint.LNG's new LNG bunkering station in Cologne, Germany, is to be used to bunker LNG for inland dual-fuel barges chartered by Shell Western LNG B.V.

Also in June, Shell Gas & Power Developments B.V. and Qatar Petroleum's Wave LNG Solutions signed a framework agreement to develop LNG bunkering infrastructure at various locations across Europe, the Middle East and East Asia.