Shell Trading Rotterdam BV (Shell) has signed a charter agreement with Plouvier Transport and Intertrans Tankschiffahrt for fifteen new dual-fuel barges, running mainly on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

The new barges are being built by the Dutch shipyard VEKA Shipbuilding BV and will be used for expanding Shell’s activities in the ARA region (Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp) and Rhine region (Germany/Switzerland).

Grahaeme Henderson, Vice President of Shell Shipping & Maritime, said: “These innovative new vessels represent a great leap forward in terms of safety and efficiency of our fleet.”

“This investment underlines that Shell is confident that LNG will form a greater part of the global fuel mix in the transport sector. Shell supports the development of a new European maritime sector, based on LNG for inland and coastal ships, ” adds Dick Benschop, president director of Shell Netherlands.

The 110 meter long barges are designed with a view to improving environmental performance, safety and optimum cargo capacity. The main engines of the vessels, delivered by Wärtsilä, will be running on 95-98% LNG fuel supplemented with a small amount of diesel for ignition.

It is expected that the barges will be delivered between late 2016 and mid-2018.