[KOLB/February 15, 2024] In a significant milestone for Busan Port, the first-ever LNG bunkering using the STS(Ship-to-Ship) method was successfully completed.

The operation, which took place over February 14th and 15th, saw the Blue Whale, South Korea's premier bunkering vessel, deliver 1,500 tons of LNG to the Pure Car & Truck Carrier of the overseas shipping company EPS via the STS method.

Constructed by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and equipped with Korean cargo hold technology (KC-2), the Blue Whale boasts a substantial tank capacity of 7,500 cubic meters. Owned by KOLB (Korea LNG Bunkering Inc.), a wholly-owned subsidiary of KOGAS (Korea Gas Corporation), the Blue Whale has been making waves since its naming ceremony in May last year.

This achievement includes a previous milestone in October last year, when the vessel executed STS bunkering through SIMPOS (Simultaneous Operations), combining bunkering with cargo handling at the raw material pier of Gwangyang Steelworks.

Despite being the world's seventh-largest logistics hub in terms of container volume, Busan Port has faced challenges in attracting eco-friendly fleets due to insufficient preparation for bunkering eco-friendly ship fuels like LNG. However, with the successful completion of STS bunkering, Busan Port is poised to become a major player in the eco-friendly ship fuel supply sector, paving the way for a new market frontier.