On November 1, the 12,500 m³ LNG bunkering and transport vessel “VIVIT ASIA LNG” departed from the shipyard, marking its official delivery and maiden voyage. The vessel was built by Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co., Ltd. (CIMC SOE) for a Singaporean shipowner.
The “VIVIT ASIA LNG” features a cargo handling system and LNG dual-fuel main engines supplied by Wärtsilä. These are integrated with a Høglund automation system (IAS), which also incorporates the cargo handling system (CHS) and the fuel gas supply system (EGSS). Additionally, the vessel is equipped with Schottel bow thrusters and azimuth thrusters, providing the precise and flexible maneuverability required for navigating complex port environments.
The liquid cargo system and LNG dual-fuel main engines on the “VIVIT ASIA LNG” are supplied by Wärtsilä, integrated with the Hoglund Automation System (IAS), and fully integrated with the cargo handling system (CHS) and the gas supply system (EGSS); the vessel is equipped with Schottel bow thrusters and rudder-propeller propulsion units, providing flexible and precise maneuvering capabilities in complex harbor areas.
CIMC SOE stated that the shipowner for this project is the global energy trading giant Vitol Group. Founded in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in 1966, Vitol Group is now headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and is the world’s largest independent energy trader, often referred to alongside Trafigura and Glencore as one of the “Big Three” in commodity trading. Vitol Group trades an average of approximately 8 million barrels of crude oil and refined products daily, maintains branches in about 40 countries, and operates in crude oil, refined products, LNG, natural gas, electricity, and carbon credits.
In recent years, the Vitol Group has positioned LNG as a core focus area in the era of energy transition, and LNG bunkering vessels are a key link in its marine fuel supply chain. In 2024, the Vitol Group placed an order with China CIMC SOE for two LNG bunkering vessels; the “VIVIT ASIA LNG,” which is now being delivered, is the first vessel in the series.