Bunker barge United LNG I has been officially christened in the port of Antwerp. The vessel will enter service in early 2026, reinforcing the growing role of LNG bunkering in the Belgian and Dutch seaports.
It marks an important moment for shipping company Somtrans, main shipbuilding contractor RensenDriessen and outfitting partners TeamCo Shipyard and Gas & Heat.
Also read: RensenDriessen enters deep-sea market with LNG tankers
Cylindrical cryogenic tanks
The vessel is an estuary-class LNG bunker barge designed for both inland waterways and coastal service up to Zeebrugge. Measuring 135 by 21.46 metres, the barge carries eight cylindrical Type C cargo tanks of 1000 m3 each, engineered to store LNG at –165 degrees Celsius. These cylindrical cryogenic tanks are central to the design and represent a significant technical step.
The hull was built in China and transported to the Netherlands. The LNG tanks supplied by Gas & Heat in Italy were then installed in Rotterdam, before the vessel moved to TeamCo Shipyard for final outfitting. Shipbuilder RensenDriessen acted as the main contractor, coordinating every phase from hull construction to delivery, with TeamCo overseeing tank integration, engineering and yard execution.
LNG bunker demand continues to rise
Somtrans is a family company with 39 vessels and a legacy of taking bold steps, from advanced tank technology to low-water concepts. The United LNG I marks the start of a new phase. A second sister vessel will follow soon, expanding Somtrans’ LNG bunkering capacity in the region.
This comes as LNG bunker demand in Northwest Europe continues to expand, driven by new dual-fuel tonnage in container, tanker, bulk, RoRo and cruise segments. The global fleet of LNG-fuelled vessels continues to grow by double digits each year, driven by owners seeking cleaner operations and reliable access to alternative fuels. By investing early, Somtrans positions itself at the forefront of this shift.
Also read: LNG retrofits surge as quick fix for carbon reduction
Entering the short-sea shipping arena
‘By combining efficient hull construction in China with local outfitting in Western Europe, we are now offering our hull building expertise more widely to the short-sea shipping segment,’ adds Managing Director Wim Driessen of RensenDriessen. ‘These cylindrical LNG tanks take this project into new territory. Integrating them at this scale is unique. It shows what is possible when a shipowner, contractor and yard work as one team.’
That cooperation between Somtrans and RensenDriessen spans more than twenty years. Together, they have delivered vessels with advanced propulsion, optimised hull forms and pioneering tank solutions. The United LNG I continues that tradition, showing how this model of hull construction in China followed by final outfitting in Western Europe is increasingly being adopted in the short-sea shipping market.
Complex integration
The final phase of the build took place at TeamCo Shipyard, where the vessel was prepared for operation and brought to completion. Managing Director Marcel Zweers reflects: ‘This was not a standard build. The LNG systems, the tank integration, the bunkering equipment, all demanded precision. It is a project that strengthens our position in LNG and shows what our yard is capable of when it comes to delivering future-proof vessels. We look forward to outfitting the sister vessel United LNG II from March 2026 onward.’
Also read: Shell expects Asia to drive 60% rise in LNG demand to 2040
