Shipping company Somtrans has christened its LNG bunker barge United LNG I during a ceremony at the port of Antwerp.
The vessel is designed for LNG bunkering operations on inland waterways and in estuary ports, enabling service coverage across Belgian and Dutch ports. Somtrans said the barge will strengthen regional LNG bunkering capacity as demand for alternative marine fuels continues to grow.
United LNG I was built through a multi-stage process, with the hull constructed in China, LNG tanks installed in Rotterdam and final outfitting completed by TeamCo Shipyard. The project was coordinated by RensenDriessen, with Gas & Heat supplying the LNG tanks.
The barge is equipped with eight cylindrical LNG tanks, each with a capacity of 1,000 cbm, marking the first time this tank configuration has been integrated into a vessel of this type by the project partners.
Somtrans said the barge is expected to enter service in early 2026, supporting LNG bunkering operations for vessels trading in the Belgian and Dutch port regions.
