China successfully applied a new ship bunkering mode on the Jiangsu section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal on Tuesday by replacing external mobile fuel tanks of two 5,000-ton LNG-powered cargo ships, according to the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC).
Each cargo ship for the new supply mode is equipped with two mobile LNG tanks, which can hold a total of 34 tons of fuel and enables the cargo ship to sail 3,000 kilometers without replenishment.
"The supply mode of these mobile LNG tanks to cargo ships is like replacing new batteries for new energy vehicles, and such a mode is the first time in China. The whole process only takes 15 to 30 minutes, saving 60 to 70 percent of the time compared with traditional filling methods," said Miao Xiaochao, LNG tank replacing project team leader of CNOOC's Jiangsu Branch.