Victoria STS to conduct Labuan's first LNG ship-to-ship transfer

By Jailani Hasan

LABUAN, Oct 12 (Bernama) -- Labuan-based Victoria STS (Labuan) Sdn Bhd is undertaking the first ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to be conducted at the Labuan port limit of Victoria Bay today.

Its chief executive officer, Benjamin Bernard Bijion said the milestone STS LNG transfer operation is expected to be completed by tomorrow afternoon, weather permitting. 

“We have successfully and securely moored both vessels alongside each other today without any reported injuries to personnel or impact on the environment,” he said to Bernama today.

Bijion said Victoria STS had secured the contract to handle LNG STS transfer operations at its six approved berths with safe water depths of up to 30 metres, located next to the marine park of Kuraman Island.

Reinforcing Victoria STS’ paramount commitment to the people’s safety and the protection of the environment, rigorous planning -- including formal risk assessments -- was completed and approved by all concerned parties prior to the start of the STS operations.

“Various scenarios were considered, and this (the STS transfer operation) was achieved through the collective and collaborative efforts of all parties involved in the operation, with the cooperation and support of Victoria’s customers,” he said.

The STS LNG transfer was witnessed by Labuan Corporation chief executive officer Rithuan Ismail, Labuan Fire and Rescue Department director Ismaidi Ismail, Labuan Customs officials and Labuan Chamber of Commerce vice-chairman SK Tan, among others.

The STS operation was conducted in collaboration with Fendercare Marine (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd, following the signing of a heads of agreement in December last year to provide STS services at the Victoria Bay Port Limit in Labuan.

Fendercare Marine is the world leader in STS operations, conducting STS LNG transfers for many leading global energy companies for over a decade. 

With highly specialised LNG transfer equipment, skilled LNG superintendents and Person in Overall Advisory Control and the widest array of fenders assets worldwide, Fendercare has been paving the way for providing bespoke solutions to clients for LNG STS Transfers.

Victoria STS specialises in offshore handling of liquefied gas and bulk petrolum cargoes, and received its first license to conduct STS operations of oil and liquefied gas products within the Victoria port limit of Labuan on July 31, 2021.

The company carried out Labuan’s first STS transfer of crude oil operation in May this year.

-- BERNAMA