Keel-laying ceremony held for Elenger LNG tanker

   A keel-laying ceremony has taken place at Damen Yichang Shipyard in China for an LNG bunker vessel for the new energy brand Elenger, formerly known as Eesti Gaas. 
   The event was attended by Ain Hanschmidt, chairman of the advisory board of Elenger and CEO of parent company Infortar, as well as a group of senior colleagues from both companies. Representatives from Damen Shipyards Gorinchem, Damen Yichang Shipyard and Bureau Veritas also were present. 
   The ceremony included the Dutch tradition of the welding of three coins onto the first section of the keel to give the vessel good luck. 
   With a 6,000 cubic meter capacity, the new vessel will play a vital role facilitating the adoption of LNG by providing an efficient ship-to-ship distribution service for all kinds of LNG vessels in the Baltic region, according to a press release from the Damen Shipyards Group, which said that following sea trials in the spring of 2020, the ship will arrive in Estonia next summer and will start serving LNG clients in the fall, carrying out bunker activities at designated locations both in and outside ports. 
   Elenger currently uses road tankers to refuel Tallink’s LNG-powered Megastar ferry, which operates between Tallinn and Helsinki.