Equinor and Excelerate Energy have completed the first-ever ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of LNG in The Bahamas. A full LNG cargo was transferred from Excelerate’s floating storage regasification unit Exemplar to Equinor’s LNG carrier Arctic Voyager using the double-banked LNG transfer system while moored at Equinor’s South Riding Point storage and transshipment terminal.
“Excelerate conducted the industry’s first commercial STS transfer of LNG in 2007, and since then STS transfers have been completed and proven safe in a wide range of environments, not including The Bahamas,” Excelerate chief commercial officer Daniel Bustos said. “This new STS location allows us to provide additional commercial flexibility to our customers and respond to prompt market needs in a safe and reliable manner.”
To date, Excelerate has transferred more than 6 Bcf of LNG using the STS protocol over the course of more than 1,500 commercial transfers. Of those 1,500 operations, more than 1,300 have been with third-party vessels.
The STS transfer is part of growing LNG activity in the burgeoning Bahamian market. Last month, Polymers International became the first company in the island nation to run its industrial processes with natural gas, partnering with New Fortress Energy for the conversion and supply of LNG. As part of the deal, New Fortress supplied cryogenic tanks for on-site LNG storage at Polymers, each with a capacity of 60,000 gal. In November, Shell North America and Bahamas Power and Light entered a memorandum of understanding for an integrated LNG gas-to-power project.