Kairos, a liquified natural gas (LNG) feeder and bunker vessel has begun regular operations in the Baltic. The 117-meter-long vessel is expected to perform bi-monthly reload operations at the Klaipėda Nafta (KN) port in Lithuania. Kairos will use the remaining time to supply LNG to vessels and terminals within the North and Baltic Seas.
According to KN’s CEO, Mindaugas Jusius, KN has now positioned itself as a company that not only offers a complete LNG supply chain for its clients, but also provides more competitive pricing.
Kairos is the largest LNG feed and bunker vessel in the world. Unlike all other feeder and bunker vessels, it also contains a compressed natural gas tank to hold vapor from client vessels.
The growth of other bunker vessels like Kairos will improve access to the LNG market in the Baltic region and allows for leverage of existing ports and efficient use of LNG terminals.
The successful launch of Kairos’ operations comes right before the 2020 restriction on Sulphur dioxide emissions from shipping. LNG is considered one of the most efficient heavy oil alternatives.
