Taiwan’s Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp has completed its first LNG bunkering operation using simultaneous operations (SIMOPS) at the Port of Shanghai, according to a LinkedIn post by the company reported on by Ship & Bunker.
The 15,500 TEU LNG dual-fuel container ship YM Willpower received approximately 2,000 mt of LNG while cargo handling was still underway, Ship & Bunker reports. The bunkering operation was carried out in collaboration with Shanghai International Port (Group) and SIPG Energy Shanghai.
What SIMOPS Means for Port Efficiency
SIMOPS allows LNG bunkering and cargo operations to occur at the same time rather than sequentially. According to Ship & Bunker, this approach is designed to reduce port turnaround time and improve overall operational efficiency for vessels calling at Shanghai.
The milestone represents another step in Yang Ming’s broader push toward alternative fuels and lower-carbon shipping, as noted by Ship & Bunker. The company took delivery of its third LNG dual-fuel container ship in June, according to the same report.
Does This Matter to You?
The successful use of SIMOPS for LNG bunkering at a major hub like Shanghai points to a shift in how bunkering can be integrated into port calls without extending time at berth. For vessels operating on LNG dual-fuel, faster turnaround during bunkering could translate into improved scheduling reliability and reduced port costs.
The involvement of Shanghai International Port (Group) and SIPG Energy Shanghai also signals growing infrastructure support for LNG bunkering operations in one of the world’s busiest container ports. As more carriers add LNG dual-fuel vessels to their fleets, the availability of efficient bunkering methods such as SIMOPS may become an increasingly relevant factor when planning port calls and fuel logistics in the region.
The source material does not provide further detail on whether SIMOPS LNG bunkering will become standard practice at Shanghai or other ports, so the broader scale of adoption remains unclear.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: Ship & Bunker
