Belgian shipping company Exmar has taken delivery of the 146,000-cbm LNG carrier Simaisma, which is set to be converted into a floating transshipment unit (FTU) dedicated to the LNG bunkering market.

The vessel has been secured under an initial seven-year charter contract and will shortly enter dry dock to undergo modifications making it suitable for use as an FTU.

Under the proposed operational model, the FTU would receive large parcels of LNG from trading LNG carriers. Specialised LNG bunkering vessels would then load at the FTU before supplying to vessels using LNG as a marine fuel. According to Exmar, the arrangement is designed to reduce the logistical costs associated with LNG bunkering operations.

Exmar CEO Carl-Antoine Saverys stated: "Exmar is pleased to assist its client in further paving the way to unlock LNG as a fuel for the shipping industry. The FTU is a smart solution with which our client brings down the costs of the logistics relating to LNG bunkering. With this solution, we are building upon Exmar's close to 50 years of LNG experience. We look forward to deploying more of these assets to unlock the full potential of LNG as a fuel for the maritime industry."