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Skangas has won a tender organized by the Finnish government central purchasing body, Hansel Ltd to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the offshore patrol vessel Turva and icebreaker Polaris between 2017 and 2019.

The framework agreement also includes the option of an additional two years.

"Our well-functioning cooperation with Skangas will continue into the coming agreement period. Our competitive tendering process has helped achieve a framework arrangement that works well in this developing market, with suppliers as well as client needs taken into consideration. The framework arrangement enables government organizations to source LNG with a high level of supply security and with consideration for responsibility aspects. LNG is an environmentally friendly shipping fuel," remarked Jesse Ruotsalainen, Category Manager, Hansel.

"It's great that we won the award for LNG supply to state-owned vessels during this year that we're celebrating the centenary of Finland's independence. We also supplied LNG to the offshore patrol vessel Turva and the icebreaker Polaris during the previous agreement period, and our cooperation with the clients covered by the framework is good. We performed around 600 LNG bunkering operations in the Nordic countries last year. Maritime transport plays a leading role in changing course towards a cleaner direction in the Baltic Sea. LNG complies with all the emission requirements and is highly energy-efficient," said Skangas Key Account Manager Jouni Bedda.

Bunker Index previously reported that Skangas bunkered the Polaris in January with the supply of approximately 700 cubic metres of LNG. The vessel is the first icebreaker in the world capable of running on both LNG and ultra-low-sulphur diesel (ULSD). Its total output of about 22 megawatts (MW) also makes it Finland's most powerful icebreaker.

In October, Skangas won a contract to supply LNG to Statoil's platform supply vessels (PSVs) following a tender process said to involve "several LNG suppliers in the Norwegian market". The agreement is valid from April 2017 until the end of 2020 with an option for two plus two years.

Image: The LNG-powered icebreaker Polaris at the Skangas LNG terminal, in Pori, Finland.