Snam, an Italian-headquartered company involved in gas transportation, storage and regasification, announced last Friday that the regasification vessel BW Singapore completed its mooring manoeuvre about 8 kilometres offshore Ravenna, fully in line with the planned schedule.

Built in 2015, the BW Singapore can store 170,000 cubic metres of liquefied gas and regasify it for a total capacity of 5 billion cubic metres per year.

The ship was purchased by Snam in 2022 as one of the measures set in place following the Russia – Ukraine conflict.

After reaching the port of Palermo last December, and performing the gassing and cooling operations in Cartagena (Spain), the FSRU (Floating Storage and Regasification Unit) has now reached the former Petra offshore platform.

In the past few days, a tender call was published to identify the party that will deliver the first LNG cargo to the BW Singapore for commissioning activities, which consist of the FSRU regasification plant operational tests and set-up.

The cargo, scheduled to be delivered in March, will also provide the minimum level of liquefied gas in the terminal’s tanks, as required to ensure its full operation.

Stefano Venier, CEO of Snam, said: “With the ship docking in Ravenna perfectly on schedule, Italy can rely on a new strategic asset, which, combined with the Italis Lng moored in Piombino, is another fundamental step towards supply diversification and the Country’s energy security.”

He also added that, “Ravenna is an ideal port of call, not only because it hosts on its territory a high-skilled, leading energy district, but also because of its strategic position attracting gas flows from the eastern Mediterranean area and beyond.”

In addition to Ravenna, Snam holds significant stakes in all regulated LNG regasification terminals operating in Italy, including the Panigaglia terminal (La Spezia), operational since 1971, the Adriatic LNG terminal (Rovigo), in operation since 2009, the OLT FSRU Toscana terminal (Livorno), active since 2013, and the FSRU Italis LNG terminal (Piombino), operational since July 2023.

Video credit: Snam.